(Kaieteur News) – Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, on Saturday turned the sod for the rehabilitation of the East Ruimveldt Market, marking the start of a major redevelopment project aimed at improving the market’s infrastructure and expanding economic opportunities for vendors.

The project, awarded through the public tender process is valued at $528,370,300 and has been split into five lots, each assigned to a different contractor. The Ministry is targeting completion within four months.

The redesigned market will feature 237 stalls, an increase of 24 over the current layout, along with a dedicated block for food vendors, salons and tailoring businesses, a youth training centre for tailoring, parking for more than 50 vehicles, and designated spaces for roadside vendors operating around the market’s perimeter. Stall sizes will range from 7 feet by 8 feet to 24 feet by 14 feet, with a height of 15 feet, up from about 10 feet under the current design.