The Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) has decided to form a committee for a comprehensive survey of the Bidhan Market, Siliguri’s largest retail marketplace to solve the problems of hundreds of traders.

Sourav Chakraborty, the chairman of SJDA, who held a meeting with representatives of Bidhan Market Byabsayee Samiti on Tuesday, said: “We will form a committee for the survey. It is necessary to know the present state of affairs at the market so that pending issues can be resolved.”

Located in the heart of the city, the market spread over nine acres has around 2,000 shops.

For years now, the traders have been demanding ownership of land on which their shops stand. The land is owned by the SJDA.

Traders have held protests, sent letters to various quarters including chief minister Mamata Banerjee and observed a business strike to press their demand.

“Today’s (Tuesday’s) meeting ended on a positive note as the SJDA has agreed to a survey after our demand. We will extend cooperation. We seek proper documentation of details so that our long-standing demand is met,” Bapi Saha, secretary of the trade body, said.

SJDA sources said on December 12 last year, the traders wrote to chief minister Mamata Banerjee. On December 18, state municipal affairs and urban development minister Firhad Hakim met with the SJDA chairman Chakraborty (SJDA falls under Hakim’s department) and asked him to take steps to resolve the issue. “Accordingly, Tuesday’s meeting discussed the issue in detail,” a source added.

The committee, sources said, will have representatives from the SJDA, the trade body, the district administration and the block land and land reforms department.

“Once the committee submits its report, it will be discussed at the board meeting and steps will be taken under the guidance of the state government,” Chakraborty added.