Two weeks after fire, fruit trucks, illegal eateries block Rituraj lane

Kolkata: Two weeks after the blaze at Rituraj Hotel, which killed 14 people, little seems to have changed in the fire-prone neighbourhoods of Mechhua and Burrabazar. Despite promises of crackdowns and a flurry of inspections, the ground reality remains unchanged: congested lanes, rampant encroachment, illegal eateries, and disregard for fire safety norms.A visit to Mechhua revealed fruit-laden trucks parked inside the narrow lanes, leaving no space for vehicles to pass — let alone fire engines. Fruit wholesalers and retailers continue to occupy the roads, making the area a logistical nightmare. Another alarming aspect is the sight of small eateries cooking on open flames on the pavement."The fire at Rituraj shook us but we are back to business as usual. We have no other choice. The enforcement is patchy, and the administration neglects the business hub," said Rajesh Poddar, a wholesaler of dates and dry fruits who has a stall a few metres from Rituraj Hotel. The road in front of Rituraj Hotel, cordoned off by cops, has been opened and has already been encroached upon."Fruit vendors have put up a canopy of plastic sheets and taken over the road. Lorries have been parked in front," said a local. While KMC sent notices to rooftop restaurants and bars across the city after the fire, action around the disaster site itself has been underwhelming. Illegal commercial activity continues unchecked inside residential buildings — a key concern that contributed to the Rituraj tragedy.At 234, Mahatma Gandhi Road, a godown stocking inflammable paints operates from the second floor of a residential structure. Barely 200 m from Rituraj Hotel, at 22, Madan Mohan Burman Street, fruit packaging boxes are stacked floor-to-ceiling in common passages. "The storage of paint in a residential building is dangerous from the fire-safety point of view. We have raised complaints with the local administration, but nobody seems to be bothered," said Priyanka Lala, a resident of the building.Even escape routes, which saved lives at Rituraj Hotel, are often obstructed in this neighbourhood. "Many residents could escape via the terrace during the fire. But in most other buildings here, terraces are either locked or used to store commercial goods," said a fire official.A team of cops, fire officials, and KMC personnel did carry out checks at Bagree Market, AV Hotel, and E Mall after the fire, and city police commissioner Manoj Verma visited several establishments, but enforcement appears to have lost momentum. "We've issued warnings and advised corrective measures. But unless there is political will and sustained pressure, compliance will remain low," a fire official said.