In a welcome relief to thousands of shoppers from the heat and humid conditions, especially during the summers, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to air-condition the new complex of New Market.

Thousands who throng this prime shopping destination of the city during summers have to bear the blazing heat and suffocation inside the complex and therefore prefer going to air-conditioned malls instead. “The New Market is the prime shopping zone of the city and we are trying to upgrade the market to the best of our abilities. We want the market to be as shopper friendly as the malls in the city. “Providing air conditioning is just the first step towards upgrading the market.” Amiruddin (Bobby), member, Mayor-in-Council (market) said.

The request for installing air conditioning in the market was send to the civic authorities by the federation of traders of New Market after the formation of the new board. According to sources, the civic body had initially said, they cannot not approve of the request as it lacks the infrastructure. However, it seems the civic authorities have changed their mind and decided to provide air conditioning in New Market&’s phase two complex. Though the new complex will be made centrally air-conditioned, the old complex cannot be made centrally air-conditioned due to its length and heritage structure.

The shop owners of the new complex will be charged 25 per cent extra by the civic body once the market is made centrally AC,according to sources. For the old complex,however, the shop keepers who wish to individually install ACs in their shop could be given permission by the civic authorities to do so, informed the MMIC. In that case, the regular extra 25 per cent as rent will be charged from them.