5 days ago
BJ Market Begins Emergency Repairs After Parapet Collapse
Part of the wall above a gate at BJ Market fell down on August 17.
The accident happened in the morning, when fewer people were nearby.
Nobody was hurt, but one person was reportedly very close to the falling debris.
Shopkeepers say the market has needed serious repairs for years.
They also point to cracks, broken windows and rainwater leaking into shops.
The city corporation started emergency work on August 20.
Workers are removing more loose parapet sections so they do not fall.
Officials say fixing the whole building will require a much larger and costly project.
A section of BJ Market’s parapet collapsed outside the park-facing gate on August 17 at about 9am.
No one was injured, but traders said a passerby narrowly avoided being hit by debris.
Traders cited years of complaints, cracked toilet walls and neglected areas inside the market.
Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation began emergency work on August 20 to remove remaining dangerous parapet sections.
Officials said comprehensive repairs could cost crores and that a detailed project report will be prepared.
- Who
- BJ Market traders, the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation and the Bidhannagar Kendriya Bajar Byabsayee Samity are involved.
- What
- A portion of BJ Market’s parapet collapsed, prompting emergency repairs and calls for broader structural work.
- Where
- Outside the park-facing gate of BJ Market in Salt Lake.
- When
- The collapse occurred on August 17 at about 9am; emergency work began on August 20. The year was not specified.
- Why
- Traders say the market has deteriorated after years of inadequate repairs, while the corporation cited limited resources and the high cost of rebuilding the entire structure.
Market Traders
Municipal Corporation
Condition of the market
Market Traders
Traders say BJ Market has been in poor condition for years, and that earlier painting and tile work were only cosmetic improvements.
Municipal Corporation
The corporation acknowledged that BJ and other Salt Lake markets need repairs and said it has received complaints about them.
Response to the collapse
Market Traders
Traders want action before another incident and plan to seek help from MLA Sharadwat Mukherjee rather than wait for elections.
Municipal Corporation
The corporation began emergency work after the accident, while preparing a detailed project report for larger repairs.
Why repairs have been delayed
Market Traders
Traders say repeated complaints produced no meaningful response and question who is responsible for the markets.
Municipal Corporation
A civic official cited limited resources and said repairing the entire building would cost crores.
Key facts
- Market age
- BJ Market was built in the early 1990s.
- Accident location
- The parapet fell outside the gate facing the park.
- Reported injuries
- No one was hurt in the August 17 collapse.
- Emergency work
- The Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation began work on August 20.
- Current measure
- Workers are breaking the roof parapet to prevent additional sections from falling.
- Full repair estimate
- The corporation said comprehensive repairs would cost crores.
- Other reported problems
- Traders cited cracked toilet walls, broken windows, overgrown plants and rainwater seepage.
Quotes
An official of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation
Municipal official responsible for discussing repair work in Salt Lake markets
“The market has been in a poor state for years, and repeated complaints to the authorities yielded no response. About a year ago, a lady suffered minor injuries after another chunk like this collapsed.”
telegraphindia.com
“After the BJ Market accident, we began emergency work on August 20. For now we are breaking the parapet on the roof so no other portion falls off.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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