With the fishing season set to resume on August 1, concerns are mounting over the continued delay in opening the redeveloped new wholesale fish market in Margao. Despite the infrastructure being completed months ago, the State government and the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) are yet to announce when the market will become operational.
The newly-built complex, the only one of its kind for wholesale fish trade in Goa, remains idle while daily transactions continue in unsanitary conditions outside. Traders still operate under makeshift arrangements adjacent to the new market complex, even as this modern facility stands ready with trading platforms, tiled flooring, drainage systems, and office space. The delay has not only disappointed stakeholders but also raised questions about the project’s handling, especially after earlier announcements that it would be inaugurated on Republic Day this year.
Speaking to the media, SGPDA chairman and Vasco MLA Krishna ‘Daji’ Salkar said a final decision would be taken after a scheduled meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. “I’ve sought an appointment with the Chief Minister to finalise all outstanding matters regarding the wholesale fish market,” he said. He also admitted that a similar meeting planned in June had failed to resolve the issue.
Further uncertainty has been added by the ongoing rubble soling work on the open ground currently used for fish trading. This has led many to question whether the authorities are preparing for yet another delay instead of moving operations into the new building. “Why spend time and resources on temporary upgrades if the new facility is truly ready?” a stakeholder asked.
Although the structure appears ready, some key components of the project remain pending. A cold storage facility, intended to help traditional fishermen preserve their catch, is still not in place. The cold storage, along with space for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was a major part of the central funding approval for the redevelopment. Neither is operational.
Salkar attributed this delay to land constraints during the construction phase, which he said prevented the cold storage from being built simultaneously. He added that this issue would be taken up in the meeting with the Chief Minister.
There is also no functioning effluent treatment plant (ETP) to manage wastewater from fish handling activities. While officials from both the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) and SGPDA have pointed to an old ETP installed years ago by BITS Pilani, it remains unclear whether it can be revived in time or if a new one will be proposed.
Meanwhile, the SGPDA has yet to finalise the tender for collecting daily sopo fees, a delay that has already cost the authority significant revenue. The projected earnings from sopo collection had been estimated at over Rs 30 lakh per month, but current income stands at just Rs 12–13 lakh. Salkar said the tendering process was held back after traditional fishermen requested a reduction in fees.
“We have revised the estimate to account for local concerns. The tender will be floated once the Chief Minister approves the revised sopo rates,” he said.
Another contentious issue relates to the retail fish trade. Dozens of migrant vendors currently sell fish around the existing wholesale market, but Salkar made it clear that no retail sales would be allowed inside the new facility. Only a select group of traditional vendors, earlier permitted under the Manohar Parrikar administration, would be accommodated. “The wholesale market is meant for bulk trading. A separate retail fish market already exists near the KTC bus stand,” he said.
Leasing and allocation of office space on the first floor of the new building also remain undecided. Despite the readiness of the physical infrastructure, administrative gaps have delayed full commissioning of the project. The neglect is already visible — stray animals have taken over parts of the building, and maintenance has yet to begin.
For the fishing community, the delay is more than just an inconvenience. Many had expected the new market to be operational by now, especially given the scale of the investment and the urgency surrounding hygiene and infrastructure at the existing trading site. The continued lack of clarity has led to speculation over whether the project is caught up in bureaucratic hurdles or simply sidelined.
Pending issues include the cold storage facility, effluent treatment plant, and the tender for sopo fees
The sopo fee tender is on hold pending CM approval
Rubble soling work at the current trading ground has led to questions about further delays. Retail fish sales will not be permitted in the new facility, with only a few traditional vendors accommodated
Leasing of office space remains undecided
The building is showing signs of neglect, with stray animals present and no maintenance initiated