BMC Requests 4-Day Period to Resolve Market Building Impasse in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has called upon the shopkeepers of Unit-2 Market Building in the capital city to reopen the shopping complex, which has been shut down for the past 10 days.

According to the sources, BMC Commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange has reportedly requested three to four days to address the concerns related to the makeshift vending stalls at the Market Building.

The closure of the shopping complex was initiated by the Central Market Association of Market Building on July 17, seeking the immediate removal of makeshift vending stalls from the area.

The association alleges that these temporary stalls have encroached upon the Market Building and are causing significant problems for the owners of permanent shops. The presence of numerous makeshift stalls has led to congestion at the Market Building, leading to further complications.

The shopkeepers have also accused some BMC officials of protecting the owners of the makeshift stalls by accepting bribes from them. They claim that the civic authorities were supposed to clear the makeshift stalls from Market Building in 2020 but have failed to do so despite repeated appeals.

The Central Market Association states that they are willing to reopen their shops at the Market Building only after receiving written confirmation from the BMC, stating that all makeshift vending stalls have been removed from the shopping complex.