Kolkata: In a swift overnight operation, municipal authorities deployed bulldozers to demolish several illegal shops and encroachments in the historic Hogg Market, also known as New Market, located in Dharmatala, Kolkata’s bustling central commercial hub.
The action, which began late last night and continued into the early hours, targeted structures built in violation of market regulations within the iconic colonial-era marketplace. Eyewitnesses reported heavy machinery moving through the narrow lanes of the century-old market complex as civic teams cleared unauthorised extensions and temporary shops that had mushroomed over time.
New Market, established in 1874 and renamed Hogg Market after its architect, remains one of Kolkata’s most visited commercial landmarks, famed for its vintage architecture, diverse shops, and vibrant shopping experience. However, repeated complaints about congestion, safety hazards, and unregulated constructions had prompted the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to initiate this clearance drive.
Senior officials indicated that the operation was part of a larger effort to restore order and preserve the heritage character of the market.
“BJP’s ‘Poriborton’ has arrived, and it has arrived with a bulldozer. In an act of brazen hooliganism and gundagardi, mobs of BJP supporters went on a rampage near the New Market area, destroying shops and vandalising the Trinamool Congress party office. This is the celebration of a party that spoke of trust and delivered terror,” All India Trinamool Congress wrote in its post.
“Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have handed their karyakartas a licence to let loose on the streets, to mow down whatever stands in their path, to attack, brutalise and kill whosoever they please. And the Central Forces have been given one instruction. To stand down and let it happen,” the post added.
The post further read, “Today it is shops. Tomorrow it will be political opponents. Then it will be the statues of Bengal’s icons. And ultimately it will be the homes of the poor and vulnerable. But wherever BJP’s bulldozer rolls in Bengal, it will meet a wall. A wall of resistance, of defiance. We will fight this policy of state-sponsored terror.”
How Locals Reacted
Local traders expressed mixed reactions. While some welcomed the removal of unfair competition from illegal setups, others voiced concerns over the sudden nature of the drive and potential livelihood impact on small vendors operating in the grey zone.
The KMC is expected to issue a detailed statement today regarding the extent of the demolition and future plans for the affected area, including possible rehabilitation or regulated vending zones. Authorities have also appealed to shop owners to cooperate with the drive and adhere to approved layouts.
