Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a fresh bidding process to make the modern abattoir at Gadakana operational, nearly over a decade after the project was first envisioned to replace open slaughterhouses in the city.The abattoir was first planned in 2011 in line with Supreme Court directions to municipal bodies to curb cruelty to animals and stop open, unregulated slaughtering.Construction began in 2017 with the objective of introducing mechanised, hygienic meat processing. Despite the infrastructure being created, the facility did not become functional, as many meat vendors continued with traditional slaughtering practices and were reluctant to shift operations.In a fresh attempt to revive the project, BMC has floated a request for proposal (RFP) inviting experienced agencies to operate and maintain the Gadakana abattoir.The facility, built on about 0.4 acres of land, includes a mechanised slaughter line, a rendering plant for waste processing, cold storage, an effluent treatment plant and a lairage shed.As per the RFP, the selected agency will run the abattoir for an initial contract period of three years, with provisions for extension. BMC proposed a shift-based model under which two shifts will be reserved for local butchers and meat vendors, while one can be used by the operator for commercial processing.BMC officials said the renewed push aimed to curb open slaughtering, particularly in wards 9, 11 and 12, and ensure compliance with food safety and hygiene norms.City mayor Sulochana Das said BMC wanted the facility to become a viable alternative for vendors and a public health safeguard for residents. “The facility was created to bring order and hygiene to meat supply in Bhubaneswar. With renewed efforts, we hope to make it functional and sustainable,” she said.Local vendors offered cautious support, while flagging concerns about costs and logistics. “If the charges are reasonable and the process is quick, we can shift, but we cannot lose customers due to delays,” said Ramesh Sahu, a meat seller at Unit IV market.Another vendor, Salim Khan from VSS Nagar, said, “We need clear rules on timings, cleaning and transport. If BMC ensures smooth operations, it will help everyone.”Residents welcomed the move, citing sanitation issues linked to open slaughtering. “Smell and waste near some lanes is a daily problem. A regulated abattoir will make the area cleaner,” said Ananya Mohanty, a resident of Soubhagya Nagar.
