KR Market will be revamped: Mayor

Grill on a median along Sethurao Street in Market demolished

Mayor B S Satyanarayana on Tuesday said that KR Market would be reorganised in the coming days.

He was speaking after the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) demolished a grill on the median along Sethurao Street near the west gate of the KR Market on Monday night.

Satyanarayana told Deccan Herald: “We have prepared a report to improve the lanes and surrounding areas of the market. The report will be taken up for discussion in the BBMP Council meeting scheduled for December 30.”

The Palike decided to raze the grill as street vendors and hawkers had encroached upon the median space.

“The median is built above the drainage. Once the median is removed, the sanitary lines will be shifted and the existing road widened for the benefit of public. We will take up demolition systematically,” he said.

The Palike officials maintained that there was no question of providing any compensation to the affected vendors or hawkers as they were occupying the place illegally.

Earthmover

On Monday night, the Palike officials along with an earthmover, arrived at the market around 8.30 pm and demolished the grill, vendors said.

“We have been told by the Palike that the grill on the other side of the stretch too would also be razed soon. Had they informed us earlier, we would have shifted to some other place,” said Mohammed Shah, a fruit vendor.

Another vendor, Kala, said that no notices were given to them about the demolition.
“We are planning to carry out protests in the coming days if they tell us to move out,” she added.

Apart from the grill, a structure, SWCNCS (Southwest Newly Corner Newly Constructed Shops), which housed 17 shops, was also demolished. Palike Commissioner M Lakshminarayana said the traders were informed earlier about the demolition.

“The 50-year-old structure was weak and hence it was brought down. The traders from there will be shifted to some other place inside the market.”