Unit-I Daily Market in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, May 20: The renovation project of Unit-I Daily Market is getting delayed as the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is yet to take any concrete steps.

In the last meeting of the City Management Group (CMG), of which BMC is a member, it was decided that the market place would be vacated for renovation. But work in this regard is yet to be initiated.

The corporation had already prepared a master plan for the Unit-I Daily Market, which is one of the busiest markets of the city. Though the traders initially opposed the move alleging the corporation’s neglect towards some vendors who have been doing business there for the last 40 years, later they supported the idea of renovation. “We are ready to cooperate with the corporation. We had even intimated the government about our intent to cooperate. But, the corporation should expedite the process,” said general secretary of Rajdhani Dainik Haat Byabasayi Mahasangha Gayadhar Swain.

As per the renovation plans, the daily market would be converted into a four-storey market complex with a parking lot. The corporation plans to build around 1,500 shops in the proposed complex along with a parking space with a capacity to accommodate 2,000 two-wheelers and 1,000 cars.

Once the complex is built, the parking problem between Rajmahal Square and AG Square is expected to be solved. Official sources at the BMC said that vegetable vendors would occupy the first floor while traders dealing in electronic goods, utensils and other items would be accommodated on the upper floors. The plan also includes building swanky food courts, installing elevators and escalators and making provisions for recreational facilities in the market complex.

Deputy commissioner of the corporation Krushna Prasad Pati said that the BMC had issued an expression of interest for construction of the market complex.

“We will take care of the vendors doing business there for long. At the same time, emphasis will also be given on their rehabilitation,” said Pati. He also said the corporation would soon expedite the process. Earlier, the civic body had also undertaken a survey of vendors in the market. The existing 1,053 traders, who have been allotted permanent space there and over 300 daily vendors doing business there for the past 40 years, will be accommodated in the complex.

At present, lack of parking space and poor sanitation are the major problems of the market. The market also lacks fire safety arrangements, which had led to fire mishaps in the past.

The Unit-I Daily Market was initially built for more than 20,000 people and was inaugurated on April 11, 1958. The general administration department looked after the complex from 1962 till October 9, 1984, after which the corporation took it over.