CM inaugurates Gujarat’s first elevated APMC market yard in Surat

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited Surat on Saturday and inaugurated Gujarat’s first elevated APMC(Agricultural Produce Market Committee) market yard at Sardar Market on Pune–Kumbhariya Road, marking a major milestone in the modernisation of agricultural trading infrastructure in the state.Built at an estimated cost of ₹1,500 crore, the advanced market yard features a two-way, 100-foot-wide ramp that allows heavy vehicles to directly access the first floor, enabling seamless loading and unloading of agricultural produce. The project is designed to create a safer, more systematic, and efficient trading environment for farmers and traders.
According to information, the elevated APMC complex is equipped with 108 shops, integrated cold storage facilities, a goods lift, passenger lifts, and ample parking space, including capacity for 500 cars and 1,000 two-wheelers on the terrace and first floor. The design allows traders and farmers to bring vehicles directly to the first floor, significantly reducing congestion and turnaround time.To support welfare and convenience, a free primary health care centre has been set up within the market yard for farmers, traders, workers, and truck drivers. Additional facilities, including a seed distribution centre, have also been established. The layout provides expanded open space in front of each shop, facilitating smoother loading, unloading, auctioning, and sale of vegetables and other produce.Surat APMC, with an annual turnover of around ₹3,700 crore, plays a vital role in Gujarat’s agricultural economy and has emerged as the state’s top revenue-earning market over the past two years.Addressing the gathering, Patel said, “Gujarat is leading the way to a developed India, and Surat’s role in this journey is pivotal. With projects like this APMC and the Surat–Chennai Expressway, we are building infrastructure that supports growth and prosperity.”

Officials said the elevated market yard is expected to significantly improve logistics efficiency, enhance price discovery, and strengthen Surat’s position as a key agricultural trading hub in the state.

(State Correspondent)