Relocated veggie market boosts wholesale business in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: What began as a forced eviction has turned into an unexpected success story for Vijayawada’s wholesale vegetable traders. Months after railway authorities demolished the decades-old Rajiv Gandhi Wholesale Vegetable Market behind the Vijayawada Municipal Office, traders say relocating to a newly built private market near Nunna has transformed their business.The new Sri Durga Malleswara Wholesale Vegetable Merchants Association Market, spread over 5.8 acres near the Vijayawada West Bypass, has emerged as one of the region’s largest vegetable trading hubs. The market, developed at an investment of nearly ₹40 crore, houses 67 shops and offers modern facilities, including dedicated rest areas for truck drivers and farmers transporting produce.Vegetables now arrive here daily from eight states, while consignments are dispatched to Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, West Godavari, Vijayawada, and even neighbouring Khammam and Nalgonda districts in Telangana.The relocation came after railway authorities repeatedly issued notices over the past two years before finally clearing the old market built on railway land. Anticipating the eviction, traders pooled resources to buy land and establish a permanent market of their own.“We are actually happier after shifting here,” said Reddypalli Durga Prasad, treasurer of the market. “Although Nunna is farther from Vijayawada city, the new location has solved our biggest problem.

Earlier, heavy vehicles were allowed into the city only during limited hours, making loading and unloading extremely difficult.”He recalled that traders had to transport vegetables nearly 600 metres after railway authorities barricaded the old market before demolition. “Now we have direct connectivity to the national highways and the West Bypass, allowing us to import and export vegetables round the clock.

We strategically selected this location, keeping in mind the rapid growth of Amaravati,” he said.Merchants say the highway connectivity has significantly reduced transportation delays, improved logistics, and lowered operating costs. With unrestricted truck access throughout the day, the market has become a preferred destination for farmers, transporters, and wholesale buyers alike.