Baragarh market complex in bad condition. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 22: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is ignoring the renovation of a market complex at Baragarh and putting to risk the lives of buyers and shopkeepers.

The market complex that was inaugurated on August 31, 1989 — Local Self-government Day — at Baragarh, is lying in a dilapidated condition owing to lack of maintenance.

In spite of being located in a busy area, the market complex has failed to attract customers because of poor sanitation and waterlogging.

The roofs of the concrete shops have started to fall, making iron rods of the ceiling visible. At certain places, the outer walls have started to crack.

The market complex lacks basic facilities such as water supply and a proper drain. As a result, waterlogging is common on its premises. Though a toilet was opened on Local Self-government Day this year, it is lying unused because it lacks water facilities.

Garbage is dumped inside the market, making the area unhygienic. Cattle can be seen moving about inside the market. The electric wirings, too, are in a bad shape. The roofs have become weak because of water leakage at various points. President of the market complex Abanikanta Patsani said nothing had come of approaching the corporation several times.

“The market complex is faced with all sorts of problems. Lack of maintenance has also affected the business of shop owners,” he said.

The authorities had inaugurated a fish market inside the complex on Local Self-government Day this year, but it has failed to attract customers. Some of the shops are yet to be opened. High rent of these shops has resulted in poor response from fish vendors.

Local councillor Amresh Jena said shop owners were not willing to cooperate with the authorities. “A huge amount of tax is pending from the shop owners. We have proposed that the monthly rent of the fish shops be slashed from Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,000,” said Jena.

The market complex, which has nearly 60 concrete shops and 20 asbestos ones, remains deserted except on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. “The authorities need to ensure that roadside vendors sit in the market. This will be beneficial for everyone in the market area,” said Sanjog Das, a local resident.

Sources in the corporation, however, said that the civic authorities had no plan to undertake renovation of the market.