Market Building impasse continues; traders across Odisha capital to down shutters soon!

Bhubaneswar: The traders across Odisha capital may soon close their shops for indefinite period as part of their protest against the alleged failure of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to solve issues related to Unit-2 Market Building.

The Central Market Association of Market Building has closed the shopping complex for indefinite period since July 17 seeking immediate eviction of makeshift vending stalls from the locality.

“Market Building has been shut for the last six days. The shopkeepers have incurred losses to the tune of Rs 10 crore. The BMC is yet to take any step to solve the issue,” said a trader.

The shopkeepers of all major markets in the capital city may soon close their shops for indefinite period to extend their support to the Central Market Association, sources said.

“The shopkeepers will resort to begging as part of their protest over the issue,” said the trader.

A meeting of all shopkeepers’ associations of the capital city is scheduled to be held on July 23 (Sunday). The final decision regarding the closure of markets across the city will be taken at the meeting, sources said.

The Central Market Association has alleged that some people have virtually encroached upon the Market Building by opening makeshift vending stalls at the shopping complex.

The owners of permanent shops at Market Building are facing a lot of problems due to the presence of hundreds of makeshift stalls at the shopping complex. This apart, the makeshift stalls are causing unnecessary congestions at Market Building, they alleged.

The shopkeepers further alleged that a few officials of the BMC are shielding the owners of the makeshift stalls at Market Building by collecting money from them.

They have claimed that the civic authorities were supposed to evict the makeshift stalls from Market Building in 2020. However, the authorities are yet to do so despite repeated appeals in this regard.