In the wake of a devastating fire at the bustling Unit-1 Haat & Market in Odisha’s capital, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sprung into action, announcing a comprehensive set of measures to enhance safety and regulation across the city’s markets.
The BMC plans to introduce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for various markets, including Unit-1, with these guidelines set to apply to 20 major haats and markets in the capital.
Mayor Sulochana Das revealed that statutory elections will be held for market committees, ensuring they are conducted in the presence of BMC officials for transparency and accountability. Additionally, the corporation will provide group insurance coverage for all shopkeepers in these markets, aiming to offer financial protection in case of unforeseen incidents.
Enforcement will be significantly tightened in all markets, with strict rules prohibiting vendors from pulling tarpaulins inside the premises or extending their businesses onto roads. “We will enforce these measures rigorously to maintain order and safety,” the BMC Mayor stated.
The fire has also reignited discussions on the long-delayed modernisation of Unit-1 Haat-Market. An estimated Rs 186 crore is required to transform it into a modern complex, while funds are lacking for the wholesale market at Patrapada Bhagabanpur. Mayor Das emphasised that progress depends on government funding, adding that deliberations are underway to provide financial assistance to the fire-affected vendors from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and BMC’s own resources.
Notably, Unit-1 Market, one of the city’s most crowded hubs, was earmarked for development back in 2014. Spanning 3 acres, the plan envisioned a state-of-the-art market complex accommodating around 2,000 vendors. A blueprint was prepared for a five-floor structure, including two basement parking levels and dedicated floors for vegetables, groceries, and household items, at an initial cost estimate of Rs 146 crore.
To make way for the project, 42 government quarters and two slums were demolished, with 125 slum dwellers rehabilitated under the Rajiv Awas Yojana. The wholesale section was slated to relocate to a 10-acre site in Bhagabanpur, allocated by the General Administration and Public Grievance (GA&PG) department years ago. However, 11 years later, the project remains stalled on paper, leading to the re-emergence of slums around the vegetable market and persistent fire risks.
The land for Unit-1 Market belongs to the GA & PG department, where 2,839 businesses operate, including vegetable vendors and wholesalers. Vendors report living in constant fear amid the chaotic environment, while local intellectuals and businessmen express ample dissatisfaction over the delays.
This incident underscores the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades in Bhubaneswar’s haats and markets, which serve as vital economic lifelines for thousands.
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