By Kokila Dhakal
Ilam, Oct. 8: City Mart, built with the objective of uniting the business area of Ilam Bazaar, the district headquarters, has come into operation from Thursday.
The Mart has been constructed by Ilam Municipality by managing the clothing and vegetable markets adjacent to the main Chowk of Ilam Bazaar.

Mayor of Ilam Municipality Mahesh Basnet and Deputy Mayor Shushila Nembang jointly inaugurated the Mart amidst a function today.
After inaugurating the Mart, Mayor Basnet said that the City Mart was developed as a model project in the district headquarters.

"Once the City Mart building fully comes into operation, there will be well-organised shops, restaurants, parking lots and a well-organised market to visit," said Mayor Basnet.
Mayor Basnet said that the Mart is important not only in terms of business but also in terms of tourism of the district.
"City Mart is also becoming a new destination for tourists to visit and shop," he said.

The construction of City Mart, which was started two years ago, will complete in partnership with the private sector at a cost of Rs. 158.4 million, said Municipal Engineer Deepak Guragain.
According to Guragain, there will be 78 shutters, a party palace hall with a capacity to hold 330 people and a restaurant with a capacity of 120 people.
Two lifts have also been installed in the main building of the Mart. There will be a vegetable market on the top floor of the building.

"The businessmen of the area have invested Rs. 300,000 to Rs 600,000 each for the construction of the city mart," said Guragain.
The monthly rent for a room has been fixed at Rs. 5,000 to Rs 12,000 and the same investment is conditional on deducting the rent, he said.

According to Guragain, the entrepreneurs had shared an advance investment of Rs. 20.3 million for the City Mart while the federal government has invested Rs. 20 million and the remaining amount has been covered by Ilam Municipality.