New Delhi: The Delhi government on Monday decided to allow Azadpur Mandi, Asia's largest wholesale market for fruits and vegetables, to operate round-the-clock, a move aimed at providing relief to farmers and traders amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
Delhi Development minister Gopal Rai, said from Tuesday, vegetables and fruits will be sold from 6 am to 10 pm and thereafter, trucks will be allowed to enter the market between 10 pm and 6 am.
Adil Ahmad Khan, Chairman of Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (Azadpur) said in the wake of the ongoing lockdown, the committee had recently taken a decision to allow sale of vegetables from 6 am to 11 am and fruits from 2 pm to 6 pm in order to maintain social-distancing at the Mandi, spread over 80 acres.
However, farmers and traders raised the issue with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and urged him to save their livelihood, Khan said.
"The government has now decided to allow Azadpur Mandi to operate round-the-clock," Rai said.
Khan said a token system will also be introduced under which only 1,000 people will be allowed every four hours so that social distancing is maintained," he said.