The Russell Market shop-owners’ efforts to stop the reconstruction of the historical building has received support from former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
“I will make sure that the historical Russell Market is not reconstructed, but only renovated. I know the importance of this building and I promise you that I will do everything to make sure that remains a part of Bangalore for many more years to come,” he said.
He was speaking after visiting shopkeepers whose shops were gutted in the recent fire. Handing over Rs20,000 to each shopkeeper, he said: “Other leaders such as SM Krishna may have promised Rs1 crore as compensation, but nothing has come of it. Unlike other leaders, I have not made any promises but shown you that I can deliver,” he said.
Kumaraswamy’s visit to Russell Market brought business at the market to a standstill. Apart from requesting Kumaraswamy to stop the reconstruction of the market, shopkeepers also took the former CM to their shops to show him the magnitude of the fire.
Kumaraswamy advised shopkeepers to submit a petition to the BBMP and government to stop plans of reconstruction. MLA Zameer Ahmed, too, visited the market and inspected the electrical wiring at the market. He expressed shock at the lack of maintenance of the market.
