KOLKATA: In the first major step towards relocating the Mechhua fruit market to the Kona truck terminal near Santragachhi, a joint team of fruit merchants, top police officers and KMDA officials on Monday visited the spot for an on-the-ground inspection. According to sources, the necessary go-ahead has been given for the shift “at the earliest”. Its success will determine if a portion of the Posta market can be relocated as well.
“Minister Firhad Hakim, who heads KMDA, has asked the agency to complete some necessary work at the truck terminal. This will include levelling the ground and setting up a few temporary food stalls,” said a senior police officer at Lalbazar.
On Monday, traders from Mechua along with cops visited the Santragachhi spot and suggested a few arrangements for the convenience of all stakeholders. “We are going to extend all co-operation to the state government to fight the novel coronavirus. We have been told it is a temporary arrangement. There will be selling points at Mechhua though,” said Shahid Ahmed Khan, general secretary of the Mechhua Fruits Merchants’ Association.
“But the trucks come from different states. The drivers and their helpers mingle with local traders and labourers. So we had to decide to shift the market,” said an officer.
Police sources said the attempt to shift the fruit market was first made much before the former mayor announced government plans to shift markets of Burrabazar and Posta. “We had failed to convince the merchants even during the first lockdown period. We could only stop unloading during the day and push the trucks on to the main roads (MG Road-CR Avenue) by stopping their entry inside the market. As the region of Bowbazar, Amherst street, Rajabazar and Narkeldanga started to witness a surge in Covid cases, even the merchants had a rethink,” said a police officer from Jorabagan traffic guard. Cops were hoping for the shift to be completed within a week.
The Santragachhi spot was chosen from a total of four places, including the Dhulagarh truck terminal. While Dhulagarh was rejected as it was located too far away, it has to be used once it is decided that a portion of the Posta-Burrabazar market will be shifted as well.
“Minister Firhad Hakim, who heads KMDA, has asked the agency to complete some necessary work at the truck terminal. This will include levelling the ground and setting up a few temporary food stalls,” said a senior police officer at Lalbazar.
On Monday, traders from Mechua along with cops visited the Santragachhi spot and suggested a few arrangements for the convenience of all stakeholders. “We are going to extend all co-operation to the state government to fight the novel coronavirus. We have been told it is a temporary arrangement. There will be selling points at Mechhua though,” said Shahid Ahmed Khan, general secretary of the Mechhua Fruits Merchants’ Association.
“But the trucks come from different states. The drivers and their helpers mingle with local traders and labourers. So we had to decide to shift the market,” said an officer.
Police sources said the attempt to shift the fruit market was first made much before the former mayor announced government plans to shift markets of Burrabazar and Posta. “We had failed to convince the merchants even during the first lockdown period. We could only stop unloading during the day and push the trucks on to the main roads (MG Road-CR Avenue) by stopping their entry inside the market. As the region of Bowbazar, Amherst street, Rajabazar and Narkeldanga started to witness a surge in Covid cases, even the merchants had a rethink,” said a police officer from Jorabagan traffic guard. Cops were hoping for the shift to be completed within a week.
The Santragachhi spot was chosen from a total of four places, including the Dhulagarh truck terminal. While Dhulagarh was rejected as it was located too far away, it has to be used once it is decided that a portion of the Posta-Burrabazar market will be shifted as well.
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