Kalamboli steel market suffers facilities lacuna

The Kalamboli steel market, despite all its floors becoming operational, is not working to full capacity due to weak infrastructure hurting the business, said Sampat Totla, the newly elected president of Steel Chambers of India.

"The infrastructure work still remains incomplete despite visits by several ministers and assurances from City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) officials to the members of Steel Chambers," blamed Totla.

Cidco has prepared a total market area of 7.5 lakh sq mt, out of which 4.5 lakh sq mt are occupied by Steel Chambers of India.

Approximately 600 plots out of a total 900 plots are under the possession of iron and steel traders.

"Initial construction of the floors is complete and approximately 90 per cent of wholesale traders have also shifted their base to Kalamboli. But full-fledged trading could be possible only after the road leading to the market is completed," added Totla.

Currently, traders are operating from nearby areas awaiting a good road link to Kalamboli.

Plots at the Kalamboli market are available in 125, 250, 450 and 900 sq mt sizes and the government is charging Rs 4.50 per month per sq mt as service charge. The government has already started charging from businessmen even if business is yet to kick off. Currently, it is quite difficult to sit at Kalamboli market after 6.30 pm, said Totla.

"Last year, Suresh Prabhu, Union minister for environment, visited the market and assured all help for the development, but his assurance is yet to be converted into action," Totla said.

BIMI, DISMA and Steel Chambers of India, therefore, have joined hands to form a joint Kalamboli committee to raise these issues with the government.

Internal roads in the market will be made by the traders and marketmen once external links are in place, Totla said.

Steel Chambers is also pursuing the Maharashtra government for abolition of a market committee and the body is hopeful that it will get favourable results and soon traders will be able to manage Kalamboli Warehousing Complex through trade associations.