Renovation: KR Market meat sellers fear project delay may hit business

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

The historic meat market in the city’s K.R. Market area was set to be demolished under a Smart City plan for redevelopment. Eviction notices were also given to the traders by the BBMP earlier this year.

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) had stepped in for a comprehensive redesigning of the space while preserving the heritage value of the market. As part of its participatory design workshop, in collaboration with the Institute of Urban Design, India (IUDI), it invited design proposals from architects and urban design experts.

On Saturday, the proposals were presented in the presence of the representatives of shop owners of the market (which in turn consists of the chicken market, fish market and mutton market). Innovative designs and holistic plans were presented to them by the participants.

The urban designers said the space would not remain only a meat market, but would be transformed into a tourist destination where people can shop and engage in other activities.

Traders anxious

While the experts intended to convert the space into an appealing and participatory space for all sections of the society, the shop-owners appear insecure about their shops and their future.
While some traders were ready to hear out the plans and negotiation, others were against the idea of adding new features to the market. “We don’t need many new things, just a renovation is sufficient,” a trader who owns a cold-storage unit in the market said.

They pointed out that the market lacked basic amenities and civic authorities have neglected them. “Shop-owners were displaced due to redevelopment works in complexes across the city. Many such traders are operating from footpaths even after years as there have been several delays,” a trader said and added that he wanted to be protected from such fate.

Experts’ perspectives

Architects Sushma Aradhya and Nandini Murthy listed eight parameters in their plan, including accessibility, the safety of pedestrians and easy movement of meat supplies.

Amol Mangrulkar and Smitha M.B. from the Indian Institute of Human Settlements proposed storage space for each shop and having separate public access routes and service accesses that the traders can use.

Prakruthi S.K., an independent Architect and Urban Design professional said the meat market cannot be looked at in isolation, but as an element of the larger market area which is a heritage space in its entirety. She also talked about the green spaces which were a part of the area several decades ago.

Architect Nasreen Kauser Dummi proposed a food court, intending to make it a hub of meat delicacies in addition to the market.