Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Maidan Market Traders Must Relocate by August 26 for Metro
Traders in a busy market in Kolkata have been told to move their stalls to a new temporary market by August 26, 2026.
They have to do this so that a new metro station can be built on the Purple Line.
The market is on land owned by the army, and the army says the market is illegal.
The traders want the government to give them legal rights to keep their stalls.
The army will let them move but will not give them legal rights.
Officials from the metro project and the railway are trying to solve the problem.
They hope that the traders will agree to move soon.
Once the metro station is finished, the traders can return to their old stalls.
The whole issue is about balancing the need for a new metro line with the traders’ businesses.
Traders at Maidan Market must move stalls to a temporary market by Aug 26, 2026.
The move clears the site for the Esplanade station on the Purple Line Metro corridor.
The market sits on army land and is deemed illegal by the Indian Army.
Traders seek tenancy rights; the army will not regularize the market.
The Project Monitoring Group and railway officials are involved, hoping for a breakthrough.
- Who
- Traders at Maidan Market, State Public Works Department, Indian Army, RVNL, metro officials
- What
- Traders must relocate stalls to a temporary market to allow construction of Esplanade Metro Station
- When
- Notice issued Thursday evening; deadline 26 August 2026
- Where
- Maidan Market, Kolkata; temporary market at Mounted Police Paddock ground; Joka-Esplanade Metro corridor
- Why
- To clear the site for the Esplanade station on the Purple Line Metro
- Deadline for relocation
- 26 August 2026
- Temporary market location
- Mounted Police Paddock ground
- Project
- Esplanade Metro Station (Purple Line)
- Authority issuing notice
- Assistant engineer, State Public Works Department
- Market name
- Dr BC Roy Market (Maidan Market)