BHUBANESWAR: Good news for fish lovers in the Capital City. Now, fresh and cooked fish of their choice will be available at strategic locations. The Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department in collaboration with Datum Marketing Limited launched the 'Fish on Wheel' service in the Capital.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik flagged off two specially designed mobile vans here on Wednesday. Though initially 10 such vans were rolled out, later more vehicles will be added in the fleet to provide the facility in all district headquarters and tourist destinations.
The specially-designed mobile vans having the facilities of freezer, cooking platform, water sink and a foldable service platform with other essential equipment will serve hot and ready-to-eat fish recipes as per the demands of customers.
The vendors will procure fish from Fishfed or Chilika Fresh outlet on daily basis and serve the customers as per the menu displayed on mobile vans. Dry fish and fisheries by-products will also be available.
Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment and Fisheries and Animal Resources Minister Dr Damodar Rout said the vans will be parked at preferred locations in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack besides some tourist spots.
While Odisha has a long coastline of 480 km, about 80 per cent people are fish lovers. Since annual fish catch is nearly six lakh tonne, the State Government has planned to achieve `20,000 crore export in next four years.
The Fisheries Department also opened 12 more Chilika Fresh outlets at Keshari Talkies, Kalinga Nagar, Laxmisagar, Pokhariput, Khandagiri, Nakagate, Shampur and Patia in the city. In collaboration with Falcon Marine Exports Limited, Fishfed is contemplating to open 14 more outlets in the city by year end.
Plans are afoot to open 100 more Chilika Fresh outlets in different towns including Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Jeypore, Baripada and Bhawanipatna in phases.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital at Bhawani Mall in Saheed Nagar, 530-bed Girls Hostel and 600-bed Boys Hostel of College of Engineering and Technology and laid foundation stone of a shelter house to be built at a cost of `2.39 crore for Haj pilgrims at Pokhariput.