2 years on, Barabati food court in Cuttack yet to turn into reality; vendors allege incompetency

The Barabati Food Court in Cuttack was built to provide locals and visitors with healthy food options in a clean and vibrant setting. However, amid anticipation, the freshly completed venue has yet to welcome any patrons.

The newly constructed food court, spearheaded by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), located close to the iconic Barabati Stadium, remains unopened, as assigned food stalls have not yet been distributed to potential business owners.

Despite having collected documentation from hopeful stallholders about two years ago, the CMC has not proceeded with the allotment of the vendor spaces. This has raised concerns among local vendors who were told that allocations would occur promptly after the construction's culmination.

Persistence of Delays Raises Concerns

Business leaders in the city have voiced their disquiet over the continued delay, which they say has caused frustration among those planning to establish food stalls. "Days pass with no change," commented one local entrepreneur, capturing a sentiment shared amongst his peers.

The CMC has not provided further explanation or indication of when the site might commence operations, leaving the Barabati Food Court's future hanging in limbo.

“They had promised that they would set up the food court in 2 years. However, years pass by and there is no update. They are giving dates after dates,” alleged a vendor.

Likewise, another vendor stated, “When we contact them, they keep pushing the dates. This is so distressing. It is over two years now.”

Rs 8 crore allocated:

An allocation of eight crore rupees was designated for the construction of this facility, which includes 80 stalls ranging from food vendors to other retail offerings.

Initially slated to open on 10 February, Mayor Subhash Chandra Singh has indicated that construction remains incomplete. He has proposed the formation of a committee to handle the shop allocation through a rigorous tender process, which is expected to require an additional six months.

“The work is yet to be completed. There is no water and electricity supply till now. The roads and periphery areas are yet to be developed. The allotment process might take another six months,” Subhash stated. 

“We're considering both those who have already submitted applications and inviting new applicants,” he noted.

Conflicting Views By Officials:

The narrative becomes more complex with the CMC Commissioner asserting that work on the food court is near completion. The Commissioner anticipates an imminent inauguration by the Urban Development Minister to officially hand over the stalls to traders.

“The work has been completed with a few last-minute works left. We will call the H&UD Minister to inaugurate the food court,” informed CMC Commissioner Anam Charan Patra.

The differing assessments from the Mayor and the Commissioner have led to doubts about the food court's actual opening timeline.