New Market in Kolkata is one of the oldest shopping sites. It is quite a large area with the old enclosed Hogg market and many more shops all around the market place. As a resident of Kolkata 'New market' doesn’t just imply 'Hogg market' but it includes the footpath stalls near Esplanade, streetfood in Bertram street, Sreeram arcade, restaurants like Nizam in the parallel streets etc.  Even talking about them makes people feel nostalgic.

I come to Kolkata from UK usually around December. This December when I visited Kolkata I could not resist planning the tour to New market as I did not even remember when I last visited the place. Well, it has always been a busy place filled with people but added to that it was almost Christmas and a weekend, thus the crowd was huge in the open areas. However inside the enclosed Hogg Market and the new building, it was still manageable.

I did loads of shopping from the shoes in Esplanande, dress materials, toys and dry fruits and pickles in Hogg market to junk jwellaries from outside stalls.

Ate 'Fuchka/Gol gappas' to my heart's content at Bertram street. We also packed some famous chicken kebab and paratha from Nizam and a burger from Burger King situated in the New Empire Cinema Building. We noticed some newly added nice food stalls opposite to New Empire Cinema Building where the road is called 'Eat street'.

These were all satisfying experience but I saw some very disturbing things which made me sad and made my experience little bit bitter, considering this is a heritage place.

Firstly the garbage specially in the Bertram street. I could not believe how nasty the streets are where we were standing to eat some Fuchka. Not sure if its the general public or the stall holders but food, plastic everything were thrown near the footpath. Secondly, the toilet facilities were only in Sreeram Arcade and New Empire Cinema Building but unimaginably dirty. Thirdly, I always wondered, if the stalls are allowed to put up on the road, shouldn't the traffic be stopped there or vice versa. Anyone walking around to enter the main New market building, will realise how people bump on the cars and bikes. 

I love Kolkata but this time I noticed that in terms of cleanliness nothing has changed since the past 10yrs. Strangely general people still throwing garbage bags in the manholes, treating them as dustbin and many street food sellers throwing garbage near their stalls. Heritage shopping sites like New market or Gariahat has not seen any improvement in crowd management, hygiene or garbage management. I think to bring Kolkata in the world map and boost tourism authorities should start campaigns to change general public's mindset.