Margao market complex fire safety in shambles, traders face major risks

Margao: The new municipal market complex in Margao, housing over 600 shops, faces severe fire safety concerns as essential firefighting infrastructure remains conspicuously absent. Recent investigations reveal a dangerous combination of inadequate safety measures and mounting fire hazards that put both traders and customers at risk.

A recent fire safety audit raised alarming concerns, particularly highlighting the unauthorised increase in power load across numerous shops within the complex. This overloading of electrical systems poses a significant fire hazard, sources said, especially given the market’s current lack of firefighting capabilities.

The long-pending construction of an overhead water tank, essential for a dedicated firefighting water pipeline, remains incomplete despite repeated demands from the New Market Traders Association. “The safety of shopkeepers and customers is our top priority, but the delay in constructing the water tank has left us vulnerable,” says the president of the association, Gopal Naik.

Adding to the fire safety concerns, many traders have encroached upon market passages, potentially blocking all evacuation routes in case of emergencies. Most shops lack basic firefighting equipment, making the complex particularly susceptible to fire-related disasters.

The situation is further complicated by unauthorised vendors occupying footpaths and creating congestion in and around the market area. These obstructions could severely hamper emergency response efforts in case of a fire incident, sources pointed out.

Municipal authorities are yet to provide a concrete timeline for completing the overhead water tank project or implementing other fire safety measures.

“With hundreds of businesses and countless daily visitors at risk, the need for immediate action on fire safety infrastructure has never been more urgent,” said former chairperson of MMC Savio Coutinho.