A major fire at a firecracker shop in Bhopal has prompted authorities to revive the long-pending market relocation process, while stricter rules for sports ammunition are also being drafted.

The massive fire that broke out at a firecracker shop in Bhopal's Halalpura area on Friday has reignited concerns over safety standards and regulatory compliance in the city's firecracker market. The incident, which occurred at Soni Patakha Centre on Bairagarh Road, has prompted the district administration to revive efforts to relocate the market outside the city limits and tighten oversight of licensed businesses.

Although firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control within a few hours, officials say the incident has exposed several longstanding issues related to storage practices, licensing conditions and legal hurdles that have delayed the market's proposed relocation.

Relocation File Reopened

Following the fire, the district administration has reopened the pending file related to shifting the firecracker market. Officials have begun compiling records related to shop licenses, court cases and stay orders that have stalled relocation efforts over the years.

According to administrative sources, photographs, CCTV footage and video evidence from the fire site are being collected and documented. The material is expected to be submitted before the High Court next week as part of an effort to seek removal of legal obstacles preventing the relocation of the market.

Authorities argue that moving the market away from densely populated areas would significantly reduce the risk posed by large-scale storage of explosive materials.

Survey of Shops Underway

The administration has also initiated fresh measurements of all shops operating in the market. Preliminary findings suggest that the shop where the fire occurred was operating over a much larger area than what was reportedly permitted under its license conditions.

Officials found that while the licensed area was considerably smaller, the actual storage and sales operations extended across a larger section of the premises. Similar discrepancies have reportedly been noticed in several other shops within the market.

Based on the findings, notices are likely to be issued to shop owners, seeking explanations within the next few days.

Licensing Concerns Emerge

Administrative officials said that out of the 15 shops currently operating in the market, only seven possess valid licenses. Several other shop owners have obtained court stays against the proposed relocation and related administrative action.

Authorities estimate that around 210 quintals of firecrackers are currently stored across the market. Given the quantity involved, officials have expressed concern about the potential consequences of any future accident.

SDM Ravishankar Rai confirmed that further action is being taken following the preliminary inspection and investigation.

Losses Reported by Shop Owner

The proprietor of Soni Patakha Centre has claimed significant financial losses in the fire. According to the shop owner, firecrackers worth approximately ₹35 lakh were destroyed in the blaze, along with around ₹7 lakh kept in cash at the premises.

Some partially burnt currency notes were reportedly recovered from the site after the fire was extinguished. No major casualties were reported, though the incident created panic among nearby residents and shopkeepers.

Stricter Rules for Sports Ammunition

In a separate but related regulatory move, the Bhopal district administration is also working on tighter controls over the issuance of ammunition to sport shooters.

The move follows last year's exposure of alleged black-marketing involving cartridges obtained under the sports quota. Under the proposed framework, an individual shooter will be allowed to obtain a maximum of 500 cartridges at one time and up to 1,000 cartridges annually.

Any requirement beyond the prescribed limit will require verification from sports authorities and specific administrative approval.

Previously, eligible shooters could receive significantly higher annual quotas depending on their category and participation level.

Proposal Sent to State Government

Sources familiar with the matter said the administration has forwarded recommendations to the state government seeking amendments to existing rules governing sports ammunition.

The proposal includes maintaining records of spent cartridge cases and mandatory disclosure of the competition or shooting range for which ammunition is being procured. Officials believe such measures would improve accountability and prevent misuse.

The administration has also suggested limiting the number of firearm licenses issued to sport shooters, with special provisions for nationally and internationally recognised athletes.

The recent fire has once again brought attention to public safety concerns surrounding the storage of hazardous materials within city limits. With legal proceedings expected to continue in the coming weeks, the future of Bhopal's firecracker market may now depend on how quickly authorities can secure approval for relocation and implement stricter compliance measures.