In Irkutsk, they discussed the future of the market in the area of Baikalskaya, Sofyi Perovskoy, Fighters of the Revolution and Podgornaya streets, known as Shanghai. Mayor Viktor Kondrashov said trade there is unacceptable in its current form. The market suffers from unsanitary conditions, traffic jams, illegal trade and theft. Entrepreneurs agreed on the need for change and decided to begin a gradual cleanup before new laws require trade only in permanent buildings.

The reason for the latest meeting between entrepreneurs and representatives of the Irkutsk administration was the condition of the market in the area of Baikalskaya, Sofyi Perovskoy, Bortsov Revolyutsii, and Podgornaya streets, popularly called “Shanghai.”
“I wanted to gather the main players in the market in order to talk about the condition of ‘Shanghai’ and hear some suggestions from you. How do you see the problem, and how do you plan to carry out trade in the future? My position is this: in the form that trade is in now, it cannot continue,” Irkutsk Mayor Viktor Kondrashov stated at the beginning of the meeting.
That changes have been overdue is obvious to the naked eye.
The market is in an unsanitary condition, there are always traffic jams around it, unauthorized trade and theft are thriving.
Viktor Kondrashov reminded those present that in all major cities of the world, markets and large shopping centers are located outside the city. Such an option is also appropriate for the city of Irkutsk.
The entrepreneurs agreed that the market’s condition is far from civilized and that something needs to change. It was decided to act in stages. Initially, the landowners promised to restore order in those places where unauthorized trade is now thriving. That is, to clear the sidewalks, as well as maintain the sanitary condition of the area not only in the evening, but throughout the day.
Viktor Kondrashov noted that further negotiations would be held with each owner separately, and also reminded them that there is no time left for long deliberations.
Starting in 2014, new provisions of the law “On Retail Markets” will come into force, under which in cities with a population of over 100,000, trade may be carried out only in capital structures.
Based on materials from the press service of the Irkutsk city administration