After Bagree market, Oberoi Grand raises fire alarm as squatters grab space

The two major access points of the hotel have been clogged by hawkers and squatters, who have wormed their way to occupy up to three-fourths of the area surrounding the property

The Bagree market fire has set the alarm bells ringing for the grande dame of Chowringhee, The Oberoi Grand. 

Located in the heart of the central business district, the first major hotel to be acquired by Oberoi group founder Rai Bahadur M S Oberoi, the iconic property is expanding. 

The Oberoi group is investing Rs 1 billion in the property over the next 18 months to add 50 new rooms which will take the total number of rooms to 259. 

But hawkers and squatters, who have been doing business along the pavements in front of the plush hotel for decades,