KMC inspects College Street market, assures repairs
Times of India | 16 July 2026
Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) commissioner, Smita Pandey, and Jorasanko MLA Vijay Ojha, accompanied by officials from the civic body’s market department, visited the College Street market on Wednesday to inspect its condition and review pending civic issues affecting traders. The team assessed the state of the infrastructure, encroachments and sanitation, and interacted with traders who highlighted concerns over the deteriorating condition of the structure. Pandey assured the traders that steps would be taken to improve the conditions.
Ojha said the inspection was prompted by repeated complaints from traders about the poor state of the market, which falls within the Jorasanko Assembly constituency.
The market, also known as Barnaparichay Market, has a long and complex redevelopment history. “The Barnaparichay Market has been in a dilapidated state for many years. The concrete is falling off and the roof is leaking. Soon after winning the election, I visited the market, and traders told me about the terrible condition inside. There were problems of illegal parking, drainage, leakage and garbage,” said Ojha.
“Pandey instructed officials to improve the civic conditions inside the market, and assured us of assistance on other matters. We will be in touch with the traders,” said Ojha.
Traders urged the civic authorities to address recurring problems, including water seepage, damaged concrete, poor drainage, security, and beautification of the market.
The original single-storey municipal market was demolished in the mid-2000s as part of a KMC project to build a modern multi-storey book mall. While the old structure was razed, its historic entrance gate, popularly known as the Central Tower, was preserved and continues to stand as a Grade I heritage structure listed by KMC.
However, the redevelopment remained incomplete over the years. Although traders were allotted shops in completed sections of the building, only the ground and first floors are operational. The upper floors remain unfinished. The four-acre complex has, therefore, never functioned as originally planned despite its location in the heart of Kolkata’s historic book hub.
The market currently houses around 325 traders while many vendors continue to operate in its vicinity. In 2024, the KMC allocated more than Rs 9 lakh to strengthen security arrangements at the market. Traders expressed hope that the latest inspection by the municipal commissioner and the local MLA will expedite repairs and improve civic infrastructure.
“We have been doing business here for years, but the market has remained in a dilapidated condition. During monsoon, rainwater seeps through the roof, concrete chunks fall from above, and customers hesitate to enter,” said Samir Dey, a trader at the market.