Shop in revamped Malleswaram market this year-end

Y Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has finally decided to handover shops to fruit and flower vendors at Malleswaram Market by the year’s end. Construction of the market began in 2014 at an estimated cost of Rs 132 crore in a joint venture with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Like it happens with most infrastructure projects in the city, construction of Malleswaram Market has been progressing at a snail’s pace.

“The construction of Malleswaram Market has already been much delayed. Fruit and flower vendors have suffered a lot due to the delay in completion of the construction work. I have directed the contractor to complete the work as early as possible,’’ said BDA Chairman SR Vishwanath who visited the market on Saturday.

The BDA chairman has said the construction of 181 shops reserved for fruit and flower vendors will be completed by December. “Later, the BDA will hand these shops over to the BBMP as per the norms. Fruit and flower shops will be on the first floor of the market,’’ the BDA chairman said.

He said that two floors (basement and ground) will be utilised to park vehicles. “The BDA will have the authority on the shops to be constructed above the first floor. To get revenue, the BDA will lease out shops above the first floor to traders and businessmen. The market will have additional parking facilities for vehicles on the fifth floor and terrace,’’ he said.

He has also clarified that there is no shortage of funds to complete the construction of Malleswaram Market, but it is being delayed due to the negligence of a consultancy firm. “Now, we have received a report from an independent consultancy agency on the quality of the construction work. We will discuss it during the next BDA Board meeting and provide the assistance required to complete this project,’’ he said. However, residents of Malleswaram are not willing to take the BDA chairman’s assurance for granted. “I am not sure about the BDA authorities completing the construction work by this December. I am also not sure whether Malleswaram Market regains its traditional look when the construction work is completed,’’ said a member of Malleswaram Social.

Rekha Chari of Malleswaram Swabhimana said she wanted all fruit and flower vendors displaced to facilitate construction of Malleswaram Market to have allotted shops here. “The BDA constructed a market complex prior to the demolition of this market in 2014, but not many shops at the new market complex were occupied. Many fruit and flower vendors prefer footpaths or pavements in the vicinity rather than the shops allotted for them due to reasons best known to them. The BBMP had constructed a market near the 9th Cross but not many vendors prefer that either,’’ said Rekha Chari.

Doubting BDA’s abilities to complete the construction of the market by December, Ravi Acharya, a resident, said that construction of the market has faced a lot of hurdles. “The construction work began with much fanfare but came to a standstill due to some legal issues. Later, construction of the market resumed, but it is yet to be completed. The old market was very vibrant. I am not sure whether the upcoming market complex will be on par with the old one on this account,’’ said Ravi Acharya.