MCC faces challenging task of temporary relocation of Central Market

Mangaluru: Having received the go-ahead signal for the creation of a new Central Market at State Bank at an estimated cost of Rs 148 crore under the Smart City scheme, the process of finalizing a location to relocate the existing merchants has begun.

Under the Smart City Scheme, it has been planned to bring the vegetables and fruits central market, the nearby meat market and the fish market beside service bus stand at State bank under the same roof.  Recently, the plan received the green signal and the work on the construction of the new market is expected to begin within a few months time. 

The present central and meat market will be completely demolished and a new market will be constructed here. In this backdrop, the administration is facing a new challenge of creating a temporary market for the existing merchants. 

According to the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), currently, there are 133 stalls designated for fruits and vegetables at the central market. 94 stalls have been designated in the meat market and 135 stalls have been designated at the fish market beside the service bus stand. But this has not been completed. 

As per the available information, there is thought to provide temporary market for the merchants from the central market and the meat market at the 6,761 sq mts of space near the town hall which is divided into 2,920 sq mts at the zone designated for street vendors behind the town hall and at the 3,818 sq mts behind the town hall, touching the football ground. One round of talks has also been conducted with the merchants. The cost for the temporary market has been estimated at Rs 5.82 crore. 

Street vendors’ zone remains unused!

Owing to the demands by the street vendors, a street vendors’ zone behind the town hall was inaugurated a year ago. However, the vendors did not come to this zone and it remains utterly unused. There is space for 250 vendors here. 

A few were provided with an ID card by the MCC. Of them, a few even started their business here. But, in the backdrop of the lack of basic facilities and the want for customers, it seems like the zone will face closure soon. Now there is an attempt being made to shift the merchants from the central market to this zone while a new central market is being created. 

Fully equipped ‘Smart Central Market’

The proposed building will consist of three floors, including the basement. The first floor will be for vegetables and fruits, the second for fish and meat market and the third floor will have wholesalers and retailers. It will have a parking capacity for 583 cars and 146 two wheelers. 14,353 sq mts of space has been reserved for parking. Totally, Rs 145 crore has been assigned for the smart market, informed M Shahshidhar, chief whip, MCC. 

The parking problem

From 4 am early in the morning till 8 am, several vehicles carrying vegetables and fruits are seen engaged in loading and unloading their goods within the limits of the central market. In the future, if the central market is shifted temporarily, space will be required for loading and unloading the goods. Since the bus stand is close by, the danger of a parking problem is very imminent. According to the available information, the MCC argues that it has been decided to create a fully equipped temporary market. 

All facilities to be provided

“The minister has already requested the district administration and the minister to let the merchants into the new market only after all the proper facilities have been installed during the period of construction. All facilities will be provided at the temporary market and the administration needs to see that no problems are faced,” said Mustafa K, President, Central Market Merchants Association.