NKDA to build market to rehabilitate unauthorised stall owners

Kolkata: New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) will construct a two-storeyed market to rehabilitate unauthorised stall owners.

The market will come up on a thin strip of land near Sukhobristi Housing Complex. The ceremonial puja has been done on January 24 and NKDA will take 18 months to complete the building. There will be a parking lot and waste bins at the market.

There will be both dry and wet markets. There will be stalls selling mutton, chicken and fish on one side, while groceries and vegetables will be sold on the other side. There will be food stalls and services like shops doing xerox, hair-cutting salons etc., in the front.

During a survey, it was found that a cluster of shops had been built illegally near Sukhobristi. These shops were set up to cater to people who had moved in initially. The shops included those selling mutton and chicken and hair-cutting salons.

It may be recalled that such stalls had come up near Unitech Housing complex. NKDA has constructed a market to rehabilitate the stall owners near Unitech in Action Area 2. Another market has come up near the old Thana in Action Area I. The one that will come up near Sukhobristi is the third of its kind.

The two markets that have already been constructed have become quite successful. The buyers get to buy fish, meat and vegetables as well as groceries. Service stalls like the shops where xerox can be done or the hair-cutting salons, cater to all sections of people, particularly those coming from the middle class.

The unauthorised stall owners will get a permanent address and this will help them to do business in an organised manner. As the makeshift stalls are made of tin, they get damaged very easily, particularly during monsoon. But soon, they will be able to do business under better shelters.