Bhubaneswar: In a significant boost to the fisheries sector in Odisha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday virtually laid the foundation for a state-of-the-art fish market at Pandara in Bhubaneswar.
The new market, set to come up over an area measuring acres, aims to address longstanding issues faced by traders and consumers at the existing wholesale fish market in Unit 4, which has struggled with infrastructure challenges for several years.
The project is part of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with an allocation of Rs 50 crore. The overall project cost is expected to be around Rs 60 to 80 crore.
The market will integrate wholesale and retail facilities, cold storage, solar energy systems, and trader houses, creating a modern hub for fish trade in the region.
Attending the event through video conference, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said this initiative is not merely about building infrastructure. It ensures that both fish traders and consumers benefit. Retailers, wholesalers, fish farmers, and customers will all gain from this project, he said.
The market will have 143 shops and is expected to generate indirect employment for over 2,000 people. Execution will be handled in partnership with Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), and the project is slated for completion by 2027.
Odisha, a state rich in fishery resources, has historically depended on other states to meet domestic demand.
The new market, combined with initiatives in bio-flock technology for home-based aquaculture, will allow local production to meet local demand, reducing reliance on imports from other regions, the Chief Minister said.
The project is complemented by ongoing aquaculture initiatives at Hirakud in Sambalpur district, covering 95.47 acres, with a total investment of Rs 100 crore for fish farming development. The central and state governments will contribute Rs 60 crore and Rs 40 crore, respectively.
When completed, the Pandara fish market will be Eastern India’s first integrated aquaculture and wholesale fish hub. The proposed market is likely to transform the fishery sector and bring a blue revolution to the region, Majhi added.