Kolkata: In a first of its kind, India gets its first floating market which is now open in Kolkata’s Patuli area in West Bengal recently with the market houses over 200 shops along with total of 228 sellers.
Set up by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), the market functions solely on boats at the lake in Patuli, where shopkeepers sell fruits, vegetables, fish among other produce.
A total of 228 sellers who were earlier moved out from the Patuli VIP market have been rehabilitated at the new place.
Around Rs 10 crore has been spent to develop the water body, said councillor of Ward 110 of KMC. To help buyers and shopkeepers reach the boats, wooden walkways have been constructed.
India gets its first floating market with 200 shops, 228 sellers:
The floating market is 500 meters long and 60 meters wide.
Local residents who frequented Patuli VIP market all these years said the arrangements at the new area seemed to be good.
Amit Saha, a local and one of the first buyers on Wednesday, said: “The arrangements look good. Only, the customers will not be able to choose the vegetables and fruits on their own as is normally done in ordinary markets. Lets see how it works,” he said. Saha bought some guavas on his first visit to the floating market.
“There is another market nearby, but I think we will becoming here since this is a new kind of thing and the sellers are the ones we have already been doing business with,” said Ratna Purokayastha, another local resident.
