Russell Market won’t be demolished: Sadananda Gowda

Russell Market traders and shopkeepers, spending sleepless nights over proposed move to demolish the structure, can now heave a sigh of relief. Chief minister Sadananda Gowda has assured the Russell Market Traders’ Association members that no demolition will take place.

The association members, along with former Congress leader Jaffer Sharief, visited the chief minister’s office on Friday. Gowda advised them to go ahead with the proposed opening ceremony, scheduled on Monday, and continue with their business on the premises.

Association general secretary Mohammed Idrees Choudhary said: “The meeting with the chief minister went very well. He has promised us that the structure will remain untouched.” The chief minister is planning to hold a meeting with the association members, BBMP authorities and others concerned to discuss the issue, he said. The association members have decided to approach KK Infrastructure, which had carried out the renovation work after the fire, for a load test certificate.