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Six years since the launch of the redevelopment of the civic-run Topiwala market in Goregaon, the revamp project continues to remain in limbo with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation now floating fresh tenders for the appointment of a new contractor, after the term period of the previous contractor lapsed. While the project was pegged at a cost of Rs 131 crore in the BMC budget for 2023 – 2024, the project has now seen a cost escalation to Rs 166 crore.
Named after Anant Shivaji Desai, who gained the moniker of ‘Topiwala’ owing to his business of manufacturing topis (caps), the old building–which housed a civic market alongside a theatre—was demolished in 2018, to make way for the BMC’s ambitious project to redevelop it into a 16-storey establishment in Goregaon.
Much to the grouse of the 265 licensees which were housed in the old market, they were rehabilitated into another space in the market’s vicinity, following the building’s demolition. While the redevelopment work commenced in 2019, according to the senior BMC officials, the project hit a snag following the Covid outbreak.
“Following commencement in 2019, the work was stalled for two years owing to Covid. After that, the contract period lapsed and the previously appointed contractor demanded the removal of the 10 per cent cap which is the standard cap of the cost escalation in any project. However, since we refused to budge on this limit, the old tender was cancelled.
Having already witnessed considerable delays since the launch, the project has now seen a cost escalation of Rs 35 crore, with the revised amount estimated to the tune of Rs 166 crore.
The ambitious project is eyeing to develop the Goregaon market into a 16-storey establishment, which is slated to house not only the market but also a civic theatre for 800 people as well as quarters for municipal staff. The civic body has now floated fresh tenders inviting the contractors to execute work on the previously charted plans.
Prakash Rasal, Assistant Commissioner of BMC’s Markets Department, told The Indian Express that the market will operate only in two floors of the sixteen storey structures. “After the demolition of the previous building, the work on the project was launched in 2019 and construction work of the basement is completed. Since the work has been stalled owing to delays, now we have floated new tenders and the pending work will be executed by the new contractor,” added Rasal.
The delay in the project has drawn flak from the vendors of the erstwhile market, who have raised demands of a bigger space in the redeveloped market.
According to senior officials from the P/South ward (Goregaon), the project is slated to be completed over the course of next three years, following the appointment of the contractor.
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