The bustling Fancy Bazar. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

Nov. 23: There is nothing fancy about this market, which took its name from a fanchi ghar — Assamese for gallows — where criminals were sentenced to death by hanging. In course of time, the word fanchi was changed to a more sweet-sounding “fancy”.

Traders and customers describe their visit to the market as one akin to that of the gallows. “Yes, it is that bad,” said Suren Das, as he made his way through the slush with two bags.

A few paces from the neon-lit glitter of the textile market in Fancy Bazar, people haggle over prices of fruits and vegetables, surrounded by filth and stinking garbage at a narrow strip of open space that goes by the name of Fancy Bazar.

The market’s wooden stalls were gutted 14 years back but till today the Guwahati Municipal Corporation has not been able to re-construct those.

As a result, the traders continue their business in makeshift bamboo platforms covered by plastic sheets. The new traders have spilled over to the adjoining pavements.

“The Jail Road is very congested for most part of the day. With trading activities too coming to the footpath, customers face lot of difficulty in getting a foothold to make their purchases,” said one trader.

A customer said the vendors were not only setting up their platforms on the footpath but also getting electricity to their stalls illegally. “There is no space for pedestrians to move about but police and GMC prefer to look the other way,” he added.

A source in the market said the GMC lessee collects Rs 20 per day from the vendors. “Hence there is no attempt” to evict them. “The vendors think they are paying rent for their sitting space,” the source added.

One of the traders, Ratan Saikia, that one of the biggest problems being faced by the customers is the fact that the market did not have a fish and meat section owing for of space. “For purchasing fish and meat one has to go to Paltan Bazar, Athgaon or Lakhtokia Railway Gate number 2, many people have stopped coming because of this drawback,” he added.

There are also no garbage bins in the market area. Heaps of garbage, including rotten fruits, lie piled near the main road and on the footpath close to the business area. GMC officials cited lack of funds for the delay in completing the market. “With GMC elections coming, there will be lots of promises from the candidates but none to fulfil them,” said a trader.