Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) standing committee on Wednesday put a hold on a ₹2.94-crore renovation project for the 46-year-old Veer Savarkar Municipal Market in Dadar (West), asking the BMC administration to audit of 20 BMC markets, which are in poor condition.
“BMC has 20 legal market (Mandi) that requires some repairs. So, administration needs to survey the condition of the markets, including the sanitation conditions and available facilities. It also needs to address the details of policy for market as it is workplace for thousands of people,” said BMC standing committee chairman, Prabhakar Shinde, adding that it should also suggest measures for restoration of the mandis.
The members of the committee disapproved the proposal for repairs of Mahim market, suggesting the redevelopment of several marketplaces in Mumbai. The committee members include BJP corporators Rakhee Jadhav and Sheetal Gambhir and AIMIM’s Zameer Qureshi.
They raised concerns about mandis in their own wards, which lack basic facilities like toilets for women, who are major sellers in fish markets.
“Veer Savarkar market is in poor condition. In 2013, 61 people died in when market in dockyard collapsed. So, BMC should think on creating new market,” said Mr. Qureshi.
He was backed by Ms. Gambhir, saying “BMC should provide details on market policy, which has been drafted. Also how many times markets have been repaired?”
Ms. Jadhav and the Congress corporator appealed to the committee chairman to prevent the allocation of the lower ground or basement to the sellers in the redeveloped market.
“The redeveloped market in Dadar is an example that sellers are still selling their products on roads, as it is not suitable for their business. Besides, the drainage system is bad. Such conditions should not happen to other markets.”
The debate around market policy was initiated following a structural audit that classified the building as ‘C- 2’ (dangerous).
The structural examination of the said mandai was conducted by the Market Department through the Structural Consultant l Retro Fitters Consulting. The report mentions that the structure is under C-2 category, proposing major repairs for 46 years old mandal.
The details of the proposed works, includes structural repairs such as installing Galvalume sheets for roofing, cement plastering works for both internal and external areas as required.
Published – July 16, 2026 11:03 am IST
