Kolkata’s firecracker market at the Shaheed Minar Maidan is scheduled to open on November 2 with permission for around 40 stalls, but the venue will receive final approval only after the fire department completes its safety inspection. The market is expected to operate until November 8, with a possible extension of one or two days if conditions remain favourable.
Preparations for the annual Kali Puja market have already begun, according to Chittaranjan Maiti, secretary of the Bada Bazar Fireworks Dealers Association. The association has said that particular attention is being given to compliance with safety standards at the market site.
A joint inspection by the Kolkata Police and the fire department was scheduled for Friday. However, the inspection could not be completed because fire department officials did not arrive, according to Maiti. Kolkata Police officers conducted an initial inspection of the premises, while the fire department’s assessment is still pending.
The remaining inspection is expected to examine the safety arrangements and other necessary aspects of operating a temporary firecracker market at the site. The fire department’s findings will determine whether the market receives its final clearance to open.
The planned arrangement places the safety inspection at the centre of the market’s operational timeline. Although the administration has permitted approximately 40 stalls, that permission does not yet amount to final approval, with the fire department’s review still required before trading begins.
The market is being organised at Shaheed Minar Maidan as part of the city’s annual Kali Puja preparations. If the required safety arrangements are found satisfactory, the market will run from November 2 to November 8. Any extension beyond that period will depend on prevailing conditions and the relevant authorities’ decision.
The next formal step is the fire department’s inspection of the market premises. Final approval will follow only after the department examines the safety measures and other required arrangements.
