Russell Market faces threat of crumbling as ceiling, canopy damaged

BENGALURU: The nine-decade old Russell Market in Shivajinagar is on the verge of collapse due to lack of proper maintenance by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike(BBMP).

The Russell Market was built in 1927 under British rule. Around 400 traders have been conducting business there, and thousands of people visit the market every day. It is in a deplorable condition as the canopy and roof have collapsed at some places and are threatening to cause more damage.

Russell Market is in a deplorable state due to lack of proper and heavy rain.

The Russell Market Traders’ Association has written letters to BBMP about the conditions of the market, but to no avail. The condition of the market has further worsened due to the heavy rain that lashed the city two days ago, and rainwater has gushed into about more than 30 shops. The shop owners complain that they have had to face huge losses.

Javed Sait, the market trader.

“The building belongs to BBMP and we have written letters through the association about the drainage block, rainwater gushing in and also some parts of the ceiling having collapsed, but they are unresponsive to our problems. When the rainwater gushes into the shops, we face lots of loss in business. I request the BBMP to look into the issue and find a solution for it, “said Javed Sait, a trader at the market.