Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has allotted Rs 80 lakh for repair and renovation of New Market.
Leaking rooftops, clogged drains and inundation in several pockets after a moderate shower are some of the problems of the century-old market that are likely to get addressed before the Puja.
A heavy spell of rain on Saturday had left several blocks of the market inundated.
Many stall owners complained how things have come to a pass when a section of regulars to the market have started shying away for their Puja shopping owing to the shortcomings in basic infrastructure.
After repeated appeals, the civic body has allocated funds for addressing some of the demands of the market.
Senior officials from the market department will meet representatives of the New Market to mutually arrive at the areas that need to be addressed on a priority basis so that buyers visit one of the city’s most popular hangout zones.
“With funds already allocated, the work of repair and maintenance of the New Market will begin soon after the tender formalities have been completed and a company is selected for the job,” Amiruddin (Bobby), mayoral council member-in-charge of markets.
“Our engineers have already surveyed the market to make an assessment of the work that needs to be done. A further discussion with the stakeholders will always be of help.”
New Market has around 2,800 shops and has been wallowing in neglect for years with a section of shop owners blaming the civic body for dragging its feet despite collecting the highest revenue among all the 46 markets under its belt in Kolkata.
Shop owners said New Market has paid Rs 28 crore to the KMC as property rent in the last financial year but has not received any support in return. Saturday’s downpour witnessed water seeping from at least two blocks.
“In front of gate number 18 there was foot-deep water till late evening. Water didn’t move because the drains were clogged,” said Uday Shaw, secretary of the SS Hogg Market Traders Association.
“Shop owners from eight blocks complained of leaking roofs because the outlets in the terraces have not been cleaned.”
Several shop owners from both the new and the old wings said the market’s 14 washrooms were never maintained despite the civic body apparently engaging staff for their upkeep.
“Six drinking water units have been installed inside the market. But every other day some unit or the other remains defunct,” said Abhijit Bose, a shop owner.
Civic officials said the work of maintaining leaking roofs had started with steel props set up to hold the underbellies. But the work had stalled for the last few months.
“All the aspects will be taken into account while drawing up a detailed repair plan of New Market,” said a senior official.
