September 4: The new vegetable market in the capital is expected to be complete by the end of this month, seven months later than the actual completion date of February.

Once in operation, the market will be opened six days a week. Built on an area of more than 82,000 square feet, the new two storied vegetable market will accommodate over 450 vegetable vendors.

The ground floor will space for 273 vegetable stalls. The rest are spread across the upper floor. There will be separate stalls for fruits and local vegetables.

Apart from that, the market will also have wholesale stores, meat, coffee and tea shops and washrooms. It will also house the office of BAFRA and for the management of the market. The new vegetable market will also have shops where agriculture tools and seeds of the Druk Seed Corporation will be sold. There will also be an information centre.

The new market boasts three ramps that will enable customers to use trolleys while buying vegetables from the upper floor. Eight stair cases connect the ground floor to the upper floor.

A green house from Druk Seed Corporation built right in the centre of the upper floor will house flowers and plants.

The Deputy Executive Engineer, Tshering of the Ministry of Agriculture said the construction was supposed to finish seven months earlier. He said it has been delayed because several factors including labour shortage, additional works, change in design of the stalls.

He said upon completion the Agriculture marketing unit will hand over the vegetable market to the Thimphu City Corporation. He added that the allotment of the stalls is yet to be decided.

The construction of the new vegetable market began last year in April. It is expected to cost over Nu. 80 million. The new vegetable market will be inaugurated in November this year.