Crawford market set to get a facelift

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) decade old ambitious project of developing the famous Crawford market has gained fresh hopes after two national level firms have shown interest in redesigning and upgrading the market. The revamp of the Crawford market project is expected to cost at least Rs 210.15 crore. The tender for the same was floated in April this year. The contractor is expected to be finalised before August.

DNA had reported on April 30 that the BMC was hopeful that the new tender will elicit a better response and intends to grant the work order by October.

The redeveloped market will have four storeys including a basement and lower ground floor, The new market building will be able to accommodate around 850 shops. The project aims to rehabilitate around 630 eligible stall owners and 200 fish vendors from Shivaji market. Both wholesalers 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.

Crawford market, constructed in 1869 is a Grade 1 Heritage structure and the contract for re-designing and upgradation work will include structural consolidation and restoration.

The estimated Rs 210 crore project will require civil work of Rs 150 crore. It will include the new four-storey building, restoration of existing structure, restoration of existing centrally located 'Heritage Fountain' and the heritage dome structure and landscaping work with others.

The electrical work of the building will cost Rs 60 crore and includes exterior and interior illumination, security systems, rain-water harvesting system, provision for stack parking, provision of solar panels among others.

A senior civic official said, "We got a positive response from the bidders. The final packet opening will be in the first week of July. The project cost is huge and we may need to negotiate with the firms before finalising the contractor. We expect everything to process smoothly."

Analysis

The redevelopment of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule market- popularly known as Crawford market was approved by the BMC in 2007
However, after an activist outcry against a private developer taking over the project, the civic body decided to revamp the structure on its own. It will take minimum three years for the new building to come up.