Wardha's ₹1.1 Crore Hawkers Plaza Remains Shut for Eight Years, Sparks Outrage Over Administrative Neglect
In a glaring example of administrative apathy and wasted public resources, a hawkers plaza constructed near the district collectorate in Wardha has remained completely non-operational for eight long years. The facility, which was developed under the Sevagram development plan with the noble intention of generating employment for unemployed youth and women self-help groups, has never seen a single stall allotted, leaving the substantial investment in infrastructure to rot.
Substantial Investment, Zero Utilization
The hawkers plaza project was proposed during the 2018–19 period on prime land strategically located opposite the district collectorate and district sessions court. The administration approved a substantial budget of ₹1.04 crore for its construction, with an additional ₹7 lakh spent specifically on electrification work to make the facility fully functional.
The plaza was formally inaugurated with much fanfare by the then guardian minister Sunil Kedar, raising hopes among local citizens about new economic opportunities. The structure contains 40 fully constructed stalls, each designed to provide livelihood opportunities under government schemes. However, in a shocking turn of events, not a single stall has been allotted to any beneficiary since the inauguration, rendering the entire project useless.
From Development Project to Illegal Hub
With the plaza remaining locked and abandoned for nearly a decade, local residents and legal professionals have raised serious concerns about the facility's current misuse. The premises have allegedly transformed into a center for illegal activities, particularly during nighttime hours.
- Residents report regular consumption of alcohol and ganja within the abandoned structure
- The surrounding area has become overgrown with wild vegetation
- The site is littered with garbage, empty liquor bottles, and other waste
- A foul stench emanates from the neglected premises
- A faded signboard of the Sonchiriya sales centre under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Yojana and National Urban Livelihood Mission still hangs as a reminder of what could have been
Advocate Siddharth Bhagat highlighted the irony of the situation, noting that the plaza's prominent location near both the district collectorate and sessions court makes the administrative neglect particularly glaring. "When such a significant public infrastructure project fails right under the nose of district administration, it raises serious questions about governance and accountability," Bhagat stated.
Demands for Immediate Action
Legal professionals and social organizations are now demanding urgent administrative intervention to rectify the situation. Advocate Harshal Poche emphasized that operationalizing the hawkers plaza would serve multiple purposes simultaneously.
- It would ensure cleanliness and proper maintenance of the civil lines area
- It would provide legitimate employment opportunities as originally intended
- It would prevent continued misuse of valuable public infrastructure
- It would restore public faith in government development schemes
Social organizations have intensified their demands for immediate action, calling upon the Wardha Municipal Council and district administration to:
- Expedite the allotment process for all 40 stalls to eligible beneficiaries
- Conduct a thorough investigation into why the project remained stalled for eight years
- Implement proper security measures to prevent illegal activities
- Ensure regular maintenance of public infrastructure
- Provide transparency about future plans for the facility
The continued neglect of this ₹1.1 crore public investment represents not just financial waste but also a lost opportunity for economic empowerment in Wardha. As the facility deteriorates further with each passing year, citizens await decisive administrative action to transform this symbol of neglect into the employment-generating hub it was meant to be.
