Shop owners of Ganeshguri Municipal Market languishing as authorities stalled construction for years

The vendors of the GMC Market in Ganeshguri are sitting around with the hope that their prayers will be soon acknowledged by the authorities and the half-built market will be completed someday, which will allow them to start their shops stress-free.

Back in the year 2013, the GMC started the construction of the Ganeshguri GMC market. The vendors were promised that the buildings will be completed within 18 months, however, its been over 8 years since then and the work sees no progress.

While speaking to Business Northeast, the working president of the Ganeshguri market committee, Hariballav Bhuyan said, "Our market was established around 1984-1985. Since then till today, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation has failed to provide us with proper infrastructure."

"It has been 7 years since the construction of the new market complex started but is yet to be completed. The authorities promised us that the construction will be completed within 18 months. Till today 18 months have rolled seven times and there is no outcome. Besides, at this point, the GMC authorities have not given any assistance to our vendors. This is the vendors' sole means of livelihood and we need urgent upgradation,” he added.

He further spoke about the condition of the infrastructure and said, "Also, there is no proper drainage system or even a washroom with a water system. When we say GMC market, it should have been enumerated as a well-established market in the capital of Assam. The authorities have failed to take any steps for the management of the market.”

Before the construction started, the old shops were demolished and the vendors were also assured that they won’t have to pay the rent unless they run their business in the area. However, with time rolling on, the GMC started asking the shop owners to pay the monthly rent.

On asking about the rent structure Bhuyan said, "The authorities are taking away the little earned by the poor vendors in the name of rent. At the same time, they have imposed a new tariff which is four times more than the former price. Before the charge for one room was Rs. 260- Rs. 350. Now it has been hiked to almost Rs. 950.”

Bhuyan further said that they also moved the Gauhati High Court but to no avail.

He said, “We have discussed the matter with GMC many times and prayed to complete construction as the earliest. They promise to complete it every time. The contractor starts the work just for demonstration and again leaves it uncompleted. Through your columns I request the honorable CM, Himanta Biswa Sarma to come forth and look after the matter,” Bhuyan concluded.

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