Bengaluru: Till a few months ago, hundreds of vegetable, fruits and greens vendors at Russell Market used to struggle a lot due to the closure of toilets that were constructed five years ago. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had constructed toilets for the benefit of vendors and businessmen in and around the Russell Market five years ago. The toilets were shut down due to lack of water and poor maintenance. The vendors and the businessmen at Russell Market had to go to Shivajinagar Bus Stand to attend nature’s call.
Now the vegetable vendors and labourers working at Russell Market are quite happy. Recently, local corporator Shakeel Ahmed and local MLA and Minister for Infrastructure Development R Roshan Baig, had made the BBMP to construct a public toilet for the benefit of vegetable vendors and others. With the construction of the toilet complex, people have stopped misusing the vacant place to attend nature’s call. “We are very happy with the support from local corporator and MLA. Now we have no difficulties to attend to the nature’s call. Now, the surroundings of the market (especially vacant space) are free from nuisance. Recently, the BBMP revenue authorities have collected all the rental arrears from the vendors. These arrears were pending for three years due to various reasons,’’ said G M Javed Sait, secretary, Russell Market Fruit Merchants’ Association.
There are 180 shops at the Russell Market and hundreds of people work at poultry shops, mutton shops and fish stalls. Many people at Russell Market expected the BBMP authorities to take measures for re-opening the toilets (that were constructed five years ago and closed due to shortage of water) as early as possible. Earlier, heaps of garbage was a common sight near those toilets. Now, the BBMP authorities have taken measures to clear garbage on a daily basis thus ensuring the cleanliness around the market.
Thanking local corporator and MLA for making the BBMP authorities to construct the public toilet, Mohammed Idrees Choudhary, general secretary, Russell Market Traders’ Association, said the BBMP authorities have taken measures to keep Russell Market clean. “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had sanctioned funds for the development of Russell Market and Johnson Market. We are expecting the renovation work of Russell Market to begin within a month. Painting and strengthening or replacing the sewage pipes and other works will be taken up,’’ Choudhary said.
All in all, now Russell Market is set to regain its lost glory shortly.
