Odishatv Bureau
Cuttack: Traders of Malgodown, the largest wholesale market of Odisha, downed their shutters and squatted on the road as part of their symbolic protest against `utter apathy` by the local civic body towards their problems.

"We have given an ultimatum to the civic body to act within seven days or else we will resort to indefinite bandh," threatened the traders body spokesman.

The traders were up in arms against lack of proper road, drainage, street lights, public toilets, conservancy work in Malgodown locality of Cuttack which houses over 800 wholesale outlets and another 200 retail outlets and receives roughly around 20,000 footfalls a day.

The agitating traders alleged the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) paid no heed to their woes despite repeated pleas, though the shutdown hit business transaction ranging between Rs 15 crore and Rs 20 crore.

When contacted city Mayor S K Ghosh said he is aware of the situation and the civic body is going to launch a massive cleanliness drive in the locality soon. "Repair of roads, drains and street lighting would be taken up on a war-footing soon", the mayor stressed.

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