ROURKELA: Delay in completion of the National Agriculture Market in Bisra block of Sundargarh district has deprived local farmers of wider marketing links.
Construction of a major portion of the market complex, located near Phuljhor gram panchayat office under Bisra block in Panposh sub-division, has been completed since 17 months. However, the complex is yet to be made operational due to absence of several associated facilities.
After the foundation stone for the market was laid in 2022, the Panposh regulated market committee (PRMC), the executing agency, completed major portion of the building infrastructure by the end of 2024.
Following a request from the PRMC secretary, the Nuagaon block development officer in November 2025 submitted a cost estimate of `39.75 lakh for construction of a boundary wall, concrete approach road, rest room and security guard quarters. However, no progress has been made since then.
PRMC vice-chairman Ramesh Agarwal had written to Panposh sub-collector Bijay Nayak on December 18, 2025, highlighting the urgent need to complete the complex and make it operational. In the letter, he stated that the campus was in a pitiable condition due to neglect and abandonment. He also warned that the newly-constructed infrastructure had become a gathering place for anti-social elements.
Again on January 6 this year, Agarwal wrote to the sub-collector, who is also the PRMC chairman, seeking urgent completion of the pending works including installation of a weighbridge in the larger interest of farmers.
According to Agarwal, by the third quarter of 2024, around `5 crore had already been invested for construction of the building infrastructure and other assets, including testing facilities and equipment. He added that another `70 lakh would be required to make the facility operational. The PRMC currently has a reserve fund of about `4 crore.
The market complex was envisaged as part of the national network of physical mandis. The project is meant to be integrated with existing agricultural produce market committee mandis across the country through the e-NAM portal, enabling farmers to secure better prices for locally-grown produce through transparent e-bidding and direct payments.
Facilities lacking
Foundation stone for the market complex laid in 2022
PRMC completed major portion of the building by 2024
Complex yet to be made operational
Boundary wall, approach road, rest room, security guard quarters yet to be constructed