Chilika Fresh Opens Two More Outlets

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 22: Chilika Fresh will open two more outlets at Sahid Nagar and Nayapalli as part of its expansion plan after the kiosk at Siripur market became a hit with the customers.

While the outlet of the Odisha State Fisheries Co-operative Federation (Fishfed) at Sahid Nagar will be opened near the veterinary polyclinic on the Maharshi College Road connecting Janpath and Cuttack Road, the one at Nayapalli will be set up near the directorate of horticulture. Construction is under way in full swing and the outlets will be ready within three to four months.

Following the roaring success of the first outlet near Odisha University of Agriculture Technology, the state government decided to add two more kiosks to supply fresh fish and crabs from Chilika and its vicinity to the customers.

Fishfed managing director Mohanty said: "The federation has roped in several self-help groups (SHGs) for the supply of fresh fish and crabs from Chilika and its nearby pockets to the city."

"We are going to invest around Rs 30 lakh for each outlet in which there will be a concrete base and a poly-urethane foam-based insulated super structure to house the outlet. The design and format is already being used by Udyan Fresh outlets and our first Chilika Fresh outlet in Siripur," Upbeat about the new kiosks, Saheed Nagar resident Nagen Behari Panda said: "We are anxiously waiting for a Chilika Fresh outlet to open in our area as soon as possible."

The first kiosk was inaugurated by chief minister Naveen Patnaik on September 26 last year. On the inaugural day, agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy announced that the Fishfed was planning to open five more outlets by the New Year. However, the non-availability of land has forced the fisheries and animal resources development department to go slow. Earlier, the plan was to include Saheed Nagar, Dumduma, Laxmisagar, Baramunda and Old Town.