A refugee camp in 1947, people who had migrated from Pakistan were allotted 35 square yards in the area to rebuild their lives. The area housed people from low-income groups who did menial jobs to make both ends meet.

However, 60 years down the line, the area has turned into a commercial hub of the city.

People, who were allotted land in this part of the city, have sold off their property and moved to other places. With prices ranging between Rs 50,000 per square yard and Rs 3 lakh per square yard depending upon the location, the colony fetches huge realty prices.

Though it is still a residential area in papers, people have encroached upon the public land and extended their shops and houses thereby making the market more congested. In the list of encroachments, Jawahar Nagar camp was the leading defaulter in the city with over 1,100 encroachments.

Residents had even constructed one-room sets on the roads. Vote-bank politics also plays its part here.

Whenever, MC officials come to the area for an anti-encroachment drive, politicians force the MC to abort the drive. Hence, nothing much has been done to make any improvements in the area.

As one gets everything under the sun in this market, ranging from garments to utensils, the marketplace is bursting at its seams. Visit the place anytime during the day and the number of footfalls clearly gives the idea of the popularity of the place with sedans dotting the market.

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