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‘Russell Market building is lighter, stronger; will stand test of time’

Although the traders have completed about 90% of the renovation work at Russell Market, the BBMP has called the tender to reconstruct the building.

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Although the traders have completed about 90% of the renovation work at Russell Market, the BBMP has called the tender to reconstruct the building.

Traders are not sure if BBMP will accept the renovation work carried out by them and drop its plan to rebuild the market.

The shopkeepers do not want the BBMP to reconstruct the market as they have spent more than Rs1.25 crore for the renovation.

“The BBMP is claiming that the building has become weak and it’s not safe to run businesses there. But the engineers who carried out the renovation work have told us that the market will remain fit for the next 60-70 years,” said Russell Market Traders Association general secretary Mohammed Idrees Choudary.

“The engineers who have renovated the market already carried out a similar work at Bangalore International Airport (BIA). Non-inflammable materials are used for the renovation,” said Krishna Kuttappa, managing director of KK Infrastructure.

“We have used aerocon panels, hollow bricks and fire-resistant metals to renovate the building. The pillars gutted in the fire have been replaced. The materials used will reduce the weight of the building by more than 60%. There is no need for further reconstruction,” said Syed Abrar, site engineer.

“Instead of reconstructing the building, the BBMP should concentrate on providing electricity and water,” said a shopkeeper.

“This market is our only source of earning. If they ask us to vacate the place and shift to some other place—which is not yet suggested by the BBMP—will the business be the same in that place? Many of us have pledged gold and property to get money for the renovation. Even the money given to us as compensation is used for renovation,” said Mohammed Shanavaz, owner of a fruit stall.

“We are not asking the BBMP to return the money we spent for renovation. We only request them to allow us to run our businesses,” said another shopkeeper.

Before and after renovation
Before the renovation, wiring was not properly done—wires were hanging from walls. But now, wiring has been done properly, CCTV cameras have been installed and fans placed in all three rows that were gutted in the fire.

Non-inflammable materials have been used for renovation. Four security guards are also deployed during night. Each of them is paid Rs8,000 a month.

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