Indore: Traders at Shivaji Market face existential crisis; metro construction, other development projects severely impact business
Indore: Rapid infrastructure development in Indore—including the construction of bridges, road widening, and Metro-related work—is creating serious challenges for small-scale traders. At Shivaji Market, located opposite the Municipal Corporation office, road construction and the installation of railings have made it difficult to access shops, putting both the traders' businesses and their employees' livelihoods at risk.
According to reports, the road in front of the market has been raised by approximately three feet to accommodate the construction of a Metro station. The installation of iron railings has further reduced the space between the shops and the road, leaving a gap of barely 1.5 feet. Consequently, many shops have become partially obscured, making it difficult for customers to reach them, and all available parking space has been eliminated.
Traders report a sharp decline in business
Traders state that their business has plummeted; some are now earning as little as ₹400–500 per day. Pawan Yadav noted that business has dropped by 75 percent, and for the past five months, traders have struggled to provide for their families. Shivdutt Bhavsar mentioned that despite repeated appeals to the authorities regarding the construction work, no solutions have been provided.
Ajit Jain explained that accessing his shop has become impossible, forcing him to shut it down. He fears he may be compelled to sell off stock worth lakhs of rupees at throwaway prices.
Prakhar Bhavsar stated that there are approximately 128 shops in the market, many of which have been severely affected. Shop owners are finding it difficult to pay their staff, creating a risk that employees could lose their jobs.
While infrastructure development is necessary, this situation raises the question of whether sufficient attention is paid to the concerns of small business owners when projects are being planned. Traders want the administration to improve access to their shops and find a solution that allows development work to continue while also safeguarding their livelihoods.