Bhubaneswar: The development authority will hire a specialist agency to demolish old and dilapidated buildings along Janpath's proposed Town Centre District.

The agency will dismantle, remove and dispose of the old buildings, starting with the demolition of Ashoka Market, the city oldest, at Master Canteen Square. The market has already been vacated and demolition will begin in a fortnight, sources said.

"The complex was tagged as unsafe. Besides, it was coming in the way of the proposed railway station multi-modal hub. The complex will be demolished to make room for a new multi-storey market," said Bhubaneswar Development Authority's additional commissioner B.S. Chayini.

"We had asked the shopkeepers to vacate the complex and relocate to alternative places provided to them. All the shops have been vacated and initial demolition has started," he said.

Sources said the decision to hire a separate agency came as the development authority lacked manpower and equipment for such drives. The demolition of the four-storey market will be the biggest ever demolition drive by the government here.

"There will be huge amount of debris from the demolition. We have the expertise, equipment and manpower for smaller drives, but we needed expert hands for this. So, we decided to hire a separate agency," said a development authority official.

Last October, the development authority started preparations to demolish the three-decade-old Ashoka Market. They held discussions with the shopkeepers and allotted them alternative shops in different market complexes across the city.

"The building was in shambles. It is a good move to demolish such buildings, but they should ensure that the shopkeepers's rehabilitation," said social worker Alok Kar.