Kolkata, Oct. 16 -- Durga Puja has marked the beginning of a new chapter for traders at Dr BC Roy Market, who on Thursday inaugurated the 72-year-old Puja at the newly-built market premises. While the shift to the new structure has begun, commercial operations at the stalls are expected to start only after the Puja, with traders reluctant to disrupt business during the festive season.
Of the 416 stall owners, around 100 have started moving their wares to the new market. However, traders said they would resume business from the new premises after the festivities, as shifting operations in the middle of the Puja shopping season could affect sales.
"Amid Puja, shifting our business is not practical as it could affect our sales during the busiest time of the year," said
Rajib Saha of NC Das Stores. Rohit Shaw of Rohit Sports said he had started shifting his wares but would begin operations at the new premises only after the Puja.
Kishore Manglani, secretary of the stall owners' association, said traders were keen to move but wanted clarity on certain pending issues before fully shifting. These include who would be responsible for maintaining the new market and ensuring drinking water facilities. While the Public Works Department (PWD) was the custodian of the old building, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) constructed the new structure.
The evacuation of the old market building is crucial for the construction of the Esplanade station of the Joka-Esplanade Metro corridor. Once the premises are vacated, RVNL is expected to demolish the existing structure and begin station construction.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.