www.expressindia.com - Weather | Horoscope | Stocks | RSS
expressindia web city
HomeBlogsCricketAstrology TendersClassifieds Reader Comments Hotels
Sign In / Register | Archive
Expressindia » Story

Renovation of Park Circus market begins

Font Size

Madhuparna Das

Posted: Jun 20, 2008 at 0237 hrs IST

Kolkata, June 19 Work on the Park Circus market has begun once again after a temporary halt. The market has been taken over by Reliance Industries for a face-lift. A notice to vacate the market will be sent to the traders' committee in a couple of months.

The renovation project for the old market came to a standstill after an impasse over the issue of rehabilitation of the existing traders. According to an official in Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), the deal was frozen temporarily as the CPM-led civic body did not get the ruling party's nod after a setback in the panchayat elections.

"The corporation has taken Rs 30.33 crore from the company. So the deal has to be worked out. Talks are on to resolve the stalemate over the rehabilitation of the traders," the official said.

The rehabilitation process was slated to begin by March while the demolition should have started in May but for the impassé. The issue of the traders’ temporary rehabilitation and their other demands had forced the KMC to stall the work.

“The corporation will start the rehabilitation work soon on the outskirts of Park Circus Maidan. Once that is done, we will notify the traders to vacate the market,” said Sahidul Islam, Joint Commissioner for Development, KMC. “Reliance is cooperating with us and is ready to wait,” added Islam.

The market houses 544 large and small shops and is in a dilapidated condition. “No maintenance work has been done by the KMC for the past seven years. Whenever we demanded upkeep we were asked to leave,” said Girindra Chandra Pal, joint secretary, Park Circus Market Bachao Committee. KMC, however, had increased the rent of the shops a couple of months ago.

Traders said they will not leave the market unless they are assured of their rehabilitation and consequent return to the market.

"We have asked the mayor to give us a written document of the ownership of the market and the rehabilitation of the traders. We want a written assurance from the mayor that we will be brought back to the renovated market and Reliance will not take up retail business here. But have been repeatedly denied the written document by the mayor," added Pal.

Discuss this story on expressindia forums
Post Comments
Name* Email ID*
Subject* Country*
Message*
Characters remaining
 
TERMS OF USE: The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).
I agree to the terms of use.

Latest News

Business

Showbiz

Sports

Naxals kill 13 policemen, loot weapons

196 and counting... Punjab candidates line up at Dera for ‘blessings’ ahead of vote...

Now Mamata wants national holidays on Netaji, Tagore birth anniversaries

Anna's movement lacks ideological tethering: Aruna Roy

No knowledge of threat to Rushdie's life: Maharashtra police

Why this Af-Pak battle has all of Sharjah on the edge

Is Modi fasting to atone for 2002 riots? Cong

More
© 2011 The Indian Express Limited. All rights reserved
Advertise With Us | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Express Group | Site Map