HYDERABAD: The recent rains have created fear among traders at Lal Bazar in Trimulgherry as the market building might come down crumbling anytime. The dilapidated building was to be replaced by a modern one and the Secunderabad Cantonment Board has even sanctioned funds in two instalments. However, no work has begun till date. This, in a city that is quite vulnerable to thunderstorms during the summers.
Lal Bazar market is one of the biggest business centres in the SCB. There are around 30 vegetable and 10 meat vendors who operate on the Lal Bazar Street. Most of the wholesale and retail shopkeepers have been doing business in the area for decades now, and some of them continue to operate from the old building. The old structures are over 60 years old and in a dilapidated state, putting the lives of traders at risk. The cantonment authorities had listed the old structures for demolition in March 2016, and proposed to construct a new modern market building for traders. Speaking to Express, G Ramesh, a vendor who has been selling vegetables at the market for about 26 years, said, “We vacated shop from the old building as it can collapse any time.”
He said that the vendors, most of them selling vegetable and meat, are settled in the Lal Bazar market. “However, we need to arrange temporary sheds in open space in the market for selling vegetables daily as we don’t have any other source of livelihood. We are demanding cantonment officials to start the construction works and allocate permanent shops for retailers and wholesalers,” he added. Another shopkeeper B Pavan, who’s been selling flowers at Lal Bazar for decades, said that cantonment official, two years ago, conducted the survey for constructing the modern market building.
“However, they didn’t start any work. We approached the board and gave representations to the officials. The board members say there are no funds in the cantonment to take up the works.” When contacted, SCB’s planning assistant engineer Balakrishna said that the board has a proposal to demolish old and dilapidated markets and replace it with new ones.