OKHLA MANDI: WHERE CHAOS MEETS COMMERCE

Many operate without formal licences, paying daily rent to intermediaries

- PRABHAT SHUKLA @ New Delhi

AT break of dawn, as the capital lazil sheds its slumber, the Okhla Mandi situated at the heart of South Delhi begins to stir. Large trucks loaded with fresh produce rumble into the scene, gently rolling over the detritus of the previous day, as it adds to the growing congestion on the narrow lanes leading into the market. Within minutes, the sprawling wholesale market would come to lide, with shouting vendors, haggling customi ers, the smell of fruits and vegetables at various stages of freshness-the lifeblood of commerce in full swing.

This bustling mandi, one of the largest fruit and vegetabl markets in the national capital, is a vital node in the city's food supply chain. But as essential as it is, the market presents a trade-off to the thousands who rely on it for their daily bread - vendors and buyers alike.