For the past month, the city’s KR Market has been plagued by a foul smell of sewage. The manhole at the entrance of the fruit trading section has been overflowing, causing sewage water to flow onto the road, and the issue remains unresolved. Despite daily trading activities of fruits, vegetables, greens, and flowers taking place in the market, the environment is marred by filth and stench. The inadequate drainage system, irregular cleaning practices, and prolonged Smart City projects, ongoing for seven years, have turned the once prestigious KR Market into a mess. Customers visiting the market are forced to endure the unpleasant odor and navigate through dirt while making their purchases. The fruit section of the market is strewn with waste, and the road leading to the fruit stalls is affected by a full manhole, causing sewage to overflow onto the road. Traders have lodged complaints with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), and officials have inspected the issue. However, no action has been taken to resolve the problem thus far. The toilet facilities behind the market are inadequate, and additional toilets are required to accommodate the number of traders. Women traders face particular difficulties due to this lack of proper facilities. The ongoing Smart City project, which has been underway for seven years, has also contributed to the deteriorating conditions. The cleaning work in the market area has been neglected, causing frustration among women traders. Essential tasks such as drainage dredging and manhole repairs, which should have been completed before the onset of the monsoon season, have not been carried out. Consequently, even light rainfall results in water accumulation on the roads surrounding the market.
