Mangaluru: Construction on the new Kadri Market to replace the earlier 40-year-old one was started last year at an estimated cost of Rs: 15 Crore in its original location. The Kadri Market was the go to place for Meats, Veggies, Groceries and other household items and the shopping expereince was messy and residents of the Mallikatte area were glad it was being re-built.
It was expectd to be completed in 18 Months, but now, the incessant rains have played a spoilsport, soon after the Corona pandemic, halting the construction work further.
According to sources, the work was stopped due to Covid-19 restrictions, technical and financial issues including pending payments. There is water stagnation at the site and this could possibly be a hazard to the patrons and employees of the Kanara Club and DK Congress Office, among others. A pretty smart way to construct a market in a city that is aspiring to be a smart city.
Financially speaking, Mangalore City corporation was expected to invest Rs 4 crore from its enterprise fund and raise Rs 6 crore through a loan from a nationalised bank. The remaining Rs 5-6 crore was to be taken as a loan from the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC). The civic body had mooted the proposal nearly two years ago by writing to the KUIDFC to prepare the feasibility report on the project on May 30, 2016. Finally the Urban Development Department approved the project in its meeting on September 26, 2017. The project estimate and plan was approved by the PWD department. The state-of-the-art market complex is being constructed on a 70 cents plot, which includes the present 25 cents and 45 cents land adjacent to the present market site which will also be used. The foundation for the complex was laid on 26 March 2018.
According to the approved plan, the Market Complex was to have a basement, lower and upper ground floors and three storeys. Provisions were to be made for meat and vegetables sale separately as well as other shops.
Before the construction started the MCC constructed a temporary market on the opposite side of the Road and all the vendors were asked to shift there. These temporary stalls were built at a cost of around Rs 10 lakh. Currently there are around 36 shops in the temporary market.
With the stoppage of construction, all plans seem to have gone for a toss.
