Civic bosses caught on a sticky wicket

The controversy over the redevelopment of Crawford Market has landed the municipal administration in a sticky situation. While it wants to redevelop municipal markets on its own to rehouse commercial settlements affected by various development projects, it foresees legal battle with developers and associations of 38 markets that await the final approval from BMC.

The proposals are based on the present market policy, in which existing shop owners appoint a developer with 70 per cent consent and seek approval from the corporation for redevelopment. The policy was finalised in 2004.

The proposals for markets at Pali Hill and Vakola in the western suburbs, which came up before the Crawford market redevelopment proposal, were unanimously passed by the corporation. However, 38 other markets, many of which are dilapidated, await further action.

With the realty market booming, the municipal corporation wants to try its hands at developing these markets. It has moved a proposal, seeking amendment in the development control regulations that will allow BMC/ MMRDA to redevelop the markets using a floor-space-index of 4.

BMC chief Jairaj Phatak has already indicated the administration’s desire to use the space available in these redeveloped markets to house commercial PAPs affected by various development projects.

If Phatak’s office decides to go by the resolution passed by the corporation on Tuesday allowing Crawford’s redevelopment at the hands of M/s East and West Developers, the developers appointed for 38 other markets, who have spent thousands of rupees and invested a lot of time on the proposals, are likely to protest.