Proud heritage, but creeky infra

Footpaths turn shops, hygiene goes for a toss and the crowds choke the roads at the many markets of the Palike. Improving rental revenue from them can

Markets under BBMP are big and old. Some are more than 100 years old. But most of them have deteriorated in the last few years due to poor maintenance and shortage of funds from BBMP.

Considered to be one of the oldest markets, KR Market has hundreds of visitors daily, queuing up for vegetables, fruits and puja utensils. Yet, this crowded place lacks even basic infrastructure such as public toilets, drinking water, and resting rooms.

The complaints lodged by the KR Market Merchants' Welfare Association and traders with the Palike have not yielded much results  

According to the traders, while the new Market Complex has been in operation since 1998, the old market -- which opened on October 11, 1921 -- continues to exist.  President of the association, G M Diwakar, however, said the old market infrastructure has disappeared barring the entry gate.

He elaborated, “There are more than 5,000 vendors staying in the new complex. All of them depend on water cans as there is no water facility. Also, there are just two toilets, which are used both by visitors as well as traders. We pay Rs two for every use. The parking lot in the basement has turned into a urinal and dumping yard."

The traders had another complaint: All the seven emergency fire exits have been encroached upon by traders. Asif Pasha, a trader said that the market complex lacks safety extinguishers. The lifts have also become dysfunctional.

In another corner of Bengaluru, the KR Puram market remains the biggest existing BBMP market in the City, as traders informed. This facility also cries for a serious facelift. While traders said the garbage disposal on premises has improved in the last eight months, the drinking water problem is unsolved.

Yele Srinivas, a trader, said that more than 2,000 farmers visit the market daily. "Most of the traders depend on water cans and few get their own water bottles. We shell out Rs 30 to Rs 40 per can,” he pointed out.

The Malleswaram market on Sampige Road, spread across 2.08 acres, is literally in rubbles. This has been the case ever since the BBMP proposed to build a multi-storied complex with help from the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). Traders complained that they have been displaced after the demolition of a few shops. They were directed to move to temporary makeshift shops built by BDA.

A V Krishamurthy from Avenue Road, a frequent visitor to KR Market and Gandhi Bazaar said that the main problem visitors face is lack of space on footpaths.

“The pavements are encroached upon by fruit vendors and hawkers. Also, safety measures and traffic vigilance need to be improved at crowded markets. Pickpocketing is on the rise, specially at KR Market." 

At the BBMP Akkipete market, traders rued that they do not have any facilities. Most of them have stopped selling their produce. Mushtari Banu, a trader, said: "There is no proper drainage system here and sewage overflows in front of shops. The mosquito menace has increased and the Palike officials have not visited the market for more than three years now."

Former chairperson of the BBMP's standing committee for markets Y R Gowramma pointed out that in the year 2013-14, Rs 60 crore was collected from the markets.

She added: "The civic agency can certainly increase the revenue if the officers are sincere in collecting rent from traders, collect fine if necessary and renew the rent on a regular basis. The civic agency has the potential to collect Rs 100 crore every year from the markets."

According to Gowramma, the rent of markets was renewed during her tenure after a gap of 40 years. "Had it been renewed earlier, the Palike’s financial condition would have improved. Also, traders fail to pay rent at most of the markets," she noted.  

While revenue collection from markets is a huge challenge, the Palike also has to grapple with the issue of inadequate number of market officials. According to the  Palike website, there are 182 posts in the BBMP Market department that includes revenue officer, Joint Commissioner for Markets, drivers and more. However, only 136 posts have been filled with 46 positions lying vacant.