An operational study of CJ Patel vegetable and fruit market of Ahmedabad

We present in this paper, an operational study of CJ Patel Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market of Ahmedabad. The market is viewed as a dynamic queuing system. A simulation model is constructed. Simulations are used to generate statistics on congestion as the volume of trade is increased from the present level to what would be expected by the year 2010. This market was built in the year 1996 in order to reduce congestion in another older market. While the buildings are designed to last a long time, simulations show that its handling capacity will get saturated much sooner, most likely by the year 2010. Based on this work, it is argued that a program to modernize loading, unloading and other handling systems must be initiated now. Further, design procedures for such markets need to recognize these as dynamic queuing systems and not just an assembly of buildings and road.