Bhubaneswar: The traders at Unit-I haat in Odisha capital here have announced to close the market till October 3 (Tuesday) to press for their various demands.

The traders did not open their shops on September 28 and 29 to protest against the civic authorities’ callousness to address their grievances.

They had earlier urged the civic authorities to arrange parking, drainage and other facilities at the haat, one of the biggest wholesale and retail markets in Odisha. The traders also pleaded for the removal of encroachments from the market, sources said.

Representatives of Unit-I Haat Traders’ Association today met the authorities of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to hold discussions on various issues of the market. The civic authorities reportedly assured the traders to look into their grievances by October 3.  Subsequently, the traders announced their decision to close the market till that day, sources said.

According to the traders, thousands of customers and retailers throng Unit-I haat every day to buy vegetables, grocery items and other commodities. However, the BMC is yet to arrange proper parking and drainage facilities for the market, located on the heart of the capital city.

The inconvenience of the customers has gone up manifold after the authorities banned on-street parking near the market. The police are imposing hefty penalties on people who park their vehicles on the roads in the area, they said.

“As many as 15,000 traders have opened their shops at Unit-I haat. Thousands of people from across the capital city and its nearby areas throng the market to buy various commodities. But, the market is yet to have basis facilities like parking lot, drainage, drinking water and toilet. We have raised the issue with the BMC several times but nothing has been done in this regard,” said Unit-I Haat Traders’ Association Secretary Bishnu Charan Sahu.