Book mall behind schedule

The construction of Barnaparichoy, the book mall being set up at the College Street Market site, is allegedly behind schedule already, according to shopkeepers displaced from the market in February 2007.

Demolition of the old structure started then, but traders alleged that the authorities promised that the allotment of the spaces in the new building would start within 18 months, that is by August 2008.

The process may be deferred by nine months.

"We were told that within 18 months from February, the ground floor for the original shopkeepers would be completed, but now authorities are telling that it would be completed in 18 months from now," alleged an undisclosed local shopkeeper.

"This is a big problem, as the present site is unsuitable for business and we are making losses," he added.

When contacted, Samar Nag, managing director of the building agency Bengal Shelter Housing Development Ltd., dismissed the allegations saying that the authorities had made it clear that the deadline of 18 months was from the day when the construction process would start, and not the day when the demolition process started, or February 2007.

The book mall would come up where the College Street Market once stood, as a joint venture between Calcutta Municipal Corporation and Bengal Shelter Housing Development.

Demolition was completed.

On the occasion of the brick laying ceremony of the construction of the new building, Nag said that 1200 displaced shopkeepers would be placed in the new structure 18 months later.

"We are on track regarding time and the whole procedure is to be completed in two years," he added.

However, regarding the space allocation, the MD said old shops would get the same space they had in the old market.

The proposed mall would be a seven-storied structure with 1.2 million sq.ft., decorated with spcial displays and with culture zone.