Bhubaneswar Markets Get Safety Makeover After Unit-1 Fire Tragedy
In response to the devastating fire at Bhubaneswar’s Unit-1 Haat & Market, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced sweeping reforms aimed at enhancing safety and accountability across the city’s bustling marketplaces.
The BMC will roll out Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for 20 major haats and markets, including Unit-1, to regulate vendor practices and prevent future disasters.
Statutory elections for market committees will be conducted under official supervision to ensure transparency. Additionally, group insurance coverage will be extended to all shopkeepers, offering financial protection against unforeseen incidents.
Mayor Sulochana Das emphasised strict enforcement of new rules, including bans on tarpaulin use within market premises and encroachment onto public roads. “We will enforce these measures rigorously to maintain order and safety,” she stated.
The tragedy has reignited calls to modernise the Unit-1 Market—a plan first proposed in 2014. Despite a blueprint for a Rs 146 crore five-floor complex and land clearance efforts, the project remains stalled.
The estimated cost has now ballooned to Rs 186 crore, with funding still pending. Meanwhile, the proposed wholesale relocation to Bhagabanpur also faces delays due to lack of resources.
Vendors continue to operate under hazardous conditions, and slums have re-emerged around the market due to prolonged inaction. Relief measures for fire-affected vendors are being considered from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and BMC’s own reserves.
This incident underscores the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades and proactive governance in Bhubaneswar’s economic lifelines.
