ISLAMABAD: The city managers are exploring options to relocate the wholesale vegetable and fruit market (Sabzi Mandi) to an adjoining area to create space for the proposed National Bus Terminal.

Developed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), SabziMandihas been operatingin Sector I-11 for the last around four de cades. However, the civic agency is now mulling shifting it to an adjacent plot, which was earmarked for the proposed bus terminal.

Officials said shifting the entire market to the new site could be a gigantic task.

They said if the proposed terminal site was not feasible, the CDA should explore options for a new site for the terminal instead of swapping Sabzi Mandi land with it.

One of the officials said ideally keeping the rapid growth ofIslamabad in view, a national level terminal should be set up at the outer edges of Islamabad.

It is relevant to note here that as per the original master plan of Islamabad, I-8 sector was earmarked as the rail and transportation centre.

However, the federal government and CDA amended the master plan in the 80s, changing the status of I-8 from a transportation centre to the residential sector.

This deprived the city of designated terminals and rail networks.

Meanwhile, the private sector is providing terminal services while there is almost no railway network in the city.

Meanwhile, sources in the Sabzi Mandi told Dawn that State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry along with CDA and ICT officials visited the market and held a meeting with the market committee and traders over the proposed option of swapping Mandi land with the terminal site.

The sources said that traders stated that shifting of the market will create problems for traders and vendors.

The sources said traders tried to convince the state minister that there will be no major differencefor traffic management after establishment of the terminal at market`s site.

The sources said the CDA wanted to make this exchange to provide direct link to proposed terminal with I.J.P. Road. However, sources said it was also discussed that when lith Avenue would be built, the CDA would have 600 feet right of way and in that case the new terminal would have adequate space in addition to the earmarked plot.

`Yes, today the state minister visited the Mandi and discussed shifting/swapping. But nothing is final yet. Both sides will meet again,` a trader at the market told Dawn, wishing not to be named.

Sabzi Mandi is a dedicated place and the market not only caters to the need of traders of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, but also those from adjoining areas and AJK.

The sources said besides authorised construction on allotted plots, construction inside the Mandi Complex without approval from the CDA also took place during the last 10 years.

`If the market is shifted to a new place, only legitimate allottees will be compensated and they will be provided new spaces,` an official of the CDA said.