K R Market's lapses could push it to oblivion

K R Market's lapses could push it to oblivion


Vehicles dumped inside the parking area at K R Market in Bangalore.
Navya | ENS
23 Sep 2008 09:09:00 AM IST

BANGALORE: The dilapidated, stinking, garbage-strewn underground vehicle parking area at K R Market is sure to give a shock to first-time visitors. Vehicles, which have not been removed for months, are piled in corners, considerably reducing the usable space in the 600 square feet parking lot. In addition to the garbage, the floor is damp with water leaking from the pipes running down the walls.

Contrast this with the swanky parking areas in shopping malls and you know why shopkeepers in the market are worried. ‘‘The area is so filthy and unhygienic that shoppers may not want to come here at all. Particularly during rain when the roads are flooded and garbage accumulates, making it hard to take vehicles out of the parking lot. During festivals, it takes around one hour just to get out of the market area,’’ says B K Goyal, Secretary, Federation of Trade Associations of Central Bangalore.

Hawkers occupy most of the pavement at the exit area, making traffic regulation and clearing of garbage difficult. Beneath the pavement is a drain clogged with garbage, visible due to the many missing concrete slabs on the pavement. This garbage flows out onto the roads during rainy season, worsening the situation. Moreover, uncovered drains pose huge health and life risks.

Personnel in charge of clearing garbage also use certain areas around the market for dumping it, to be re-collected later. Often, the garbage lies there for hours together or even a full day, before it is removed. One such 'dumping zone' in the Masjid area which is surrounded on all sides by shops. ‘‘The unhygienic condition is affecting our business. But there won't be any respite even if we complain,’’says a shopkeeper.

The BBMP Commissioner, during his visit seven months ago, had promised that the parking area will be renovated. However, no action has been taken so far.

Govindraj, Joint Commissioner for the K R Market area, says that plans for renovation are being prepared and cost estimates are being made. ‘‘Garbage is being removed from the area constantly as the market functions round the clock. But as there are no dumping zones nearby, it's hard to maintain cleanliness at all times. Currently, vehicles carrying garbage have to travel for three hours to reach the dumping zones,’’ says Dr Devaki Umesh, Health Officer (West).

The 'No Parking' area on SJP Road, stretching from Chandra Bhavan to Masjid area, has vehicles parked most of the time.

Police attribute the shoddy traffic regulation to the huge crowd that throngs the market.

Unless renovation work is taken up and traffic rules followed stringently, the bustling market area is likely to become redundant in the long run.