Palike plans to demolish old building of KR Market

We don't want another collapse to jolt us, says BBMP chief

 After the collapse of several old and dilapidated buildings in the City, in which many people were killed, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has finally decided to get its act together.

As a first step, a part of the old building of the historic KR Market is proposed to be demolished. The plan has emerged at a time when the newly constructed building at KR Market has generated controversy for its poor design. The Palike, however, says the old building has to be demolished as it is too weak. Accordingly, vendors will be shifted anytime soon.

BBMP Commissioner M Lakshminarayana and Mayor B S Sathyanarayana, who inspected the market recently, have said the old structure next to the main building adjoining the Sirsi Circle flyover and parking gate is weak.

“We don’t want another building collapse to occur, that too the Palike buildings. It (KR Market building) is an unsafe structure. Besides, traders there have not been paying any rent and their leases have expired. We have not renewed their lease as they have not paid rent for a long time. They will have to vacate the place,” Lakshminarayana told Deccan Herald.

The commissioner further said the cracks that had formed under the historic clock tower would be looked into in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Y Gowramma, the chairperson of the BBMP’s Standing Committee on Markets, said buildings were on the verge of collapse not just near the nearby flyover but also on the east side of the main market.

Traders, however, seem reluctant to move out. One of them said on the condition of anonymity: “So far, no BBMP officer has informed or asked us to vacate. We have not received any notice either. Most of us are poor and struggle to make a living. Some of us also pay rent, hence we won’t move out.”

G M Diwakar, the president of KR Market Flower Merchants’ Association, however, conceded that traders had not been paying rent and the building had become weak. “Besides the old structure, there are illegal shops in the flower market and they need to be razed, too,” he added.