Bhubaneswar, Jan. 24: A plan to build a multi-storey market complex at Unit-I Daily Market is getting delayed because of the slow progress in evicting 49 occupants of government quarters in the vicinity.

The quarters are to be demolished to create more space for the market complex.

Unit-I Daily Market is built over 3.92 acres, and the three rows of government quarters, when demolished, will provide another 3.82 acres. The multi-storey market complex along with parking space will be built on the entire 7.74 acres.

Today, the enforcement squad of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the general administration department went to evict the 49 quarters as the state government had already provided alternative quarters to the occupants at various locations across the city.

However, the eviction teams had to return without taking any action as the police force under the Capital police station was deployed near the Unit-VIII DAV Public School. Parents of the DAV school students were staging a road blockade at Unit-VIII.

“The decision to evict the residents was taken during the city management group meeting on December 5 and before that letters were written both to the general administration department’s rent section and the Odisha Police in December so that the evacuation would be smooth. However, the residents are not paying any heed to the notice,” said a senior BMC officer.

The enforcement officials of BMC, BDA and the general administration department said that the three rows of government quarters located behind Unit-I Daily Market were partly used by vegetable vendors. Many quarters had been sub-let. “We cannot demolish buildings with people living inside. However, as the letters were already issued, the inhabitants must be evicted,” said an official.

Regarding the allotment issue of the shops in the market and construction of the new complex at a bigger area, a BMC land official said: “Three designs were discussed, but no decision has been taken so far. The complex was built by BMC, as rehabilitation of the genuine allottees was the prime objective. The demolition of 49 quarters in a phase-wise manner will continue along with preparing a list of the traders who are to be allotted shops in future.”

A total of 1,053 are permanent shops and 357 are makeshift shops. The makeshift traders are also demanding to be included in the new complex.

BMC commissioner Sanjib Kumar Mishra said: “The present traffic mess creating problems for vehicular movement near the Unit-I Daily Market can only be solved after the new market complex comes up.”