New tender sparks fresh hopes to revamp Crawford Market

Failing to attract bidders for the long-due Crawford Market redevelopment project, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) floated another tender earlier in the month. The BMC's engineering department is now hopeful that the second tender will elicit a better response, and intends to give the work order by October.

The project estimated at Rs 210 crore, entails the construction of a new four-storey building with two basement floors, accommodating 850 shops.

The redevelopment of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule market, popularly known as Crawford Market, was approved by the BMC in 2007, following which a developer was appointed for the project. However, after an activist outcry against a private developer taking over the project, the civic body decided to revamp the structure on its own.

After the BMC back-out, the private developer had approached the Bombay High Court. The court, however, allowed the civic body to go ahead with the project, following which the first tender was floated in December last year.

The redevelopment project aims to rehabilitate 630 eligible stall owners. The 200 fish vendors from Shivaji market, both whole-sellers and retailers, will be accommodated in the new building. The revamped market structure is slated to be Mumbai's first hygienic, uniform, open market space. The area of the shops in the new building will be roughly between 30 and 36 sq feet each.

"We have re-issued a tender for the Crawford market project and expect good bids this time. If the process is smooth, we will be able to give the work order by October this year. After the work starts, it will take three years for the new building to be ready. Seven to eight ancillary sheds next to the clock tower will be rehabilitated in the new building too," a senior civic official told DNA.