One of the demolished government quarters near Unit-I daily market in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, April 24: The municipal corporation will demolish four government quarters on April 29 to facilitate the modernisation of Unit-I daily market.

Sources in the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation said that according to the market’s upgrade plan, 3.18 acres were required, for which 49 government quarters needed to be pulled down. Last month, the civic body conducted a demolition drive and razed down three quarters. Twenty of the 49 quarters belong to the general administration department, while the rest belong to the police.

“As long as the quarters are not vacated, we will not be able to demolish them. So, we will demolish the quarters in phases,” said assistant commissioner (recovery) of the corporation Sumita Behera.

Last August, the general administration department had allocated 3.8 acres to convert the daily market into a four-storey market complex. Though modernisation of the market was mooted in 2010, it got delayed because of land acquisition problems and resentment by a section of vendors, who apprehended displacement.

General secretary of the Rajdhani Dainik Haat Byabasayee Mahasangha Gayadhar Swain alleged that the corporation was making a delayed approach.

“This is government land. So, it does not make any sense for delay in demolishing the quarters. All vendors will lend their full support to the drive,” said Swain.

According to the 2010 plan, the first floor of the new market complex will be allotted to vegetable vendors, while the remaining floors will be for traders dealing with electronic goods, stationery and utensils. The building will also have eateries and other recreational facilities, apart from parking lots.

The project includes 1,400 kiosks to seat the vendors. Though the corporation’s official list features around 1,050 traders, around 3,000 vendors have been running business in the marker, creating congestion.

The market, which is one of the oldest markets of the city, lacks hygiene and fire preventive measures. “The city’s population has been rising, but the market has remained the same. It must be converted into a modern one shortly,” said Nishan Mishra, a resident.

The market was inaugurated on April 11, 1958, initially for more than 20,000 people. The general administration department had been managing the market from 1962 to October 1984, after which, the civic body took it over.