Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC) has launched a major urban renewal plan for Nagpur’s Cotton and Flower markets. The redevelopment aims to blend commercial efficiency with sustainable and community-centred design, marking a significant step towards transforming the city’s traditional marketplaces into modern, inclusive commercial spaces.
The first phase focuses on redeveloping the Cotton Market, one of Nagpur’s most prominent wholesale trading zones. According to officials, the plan includes constructing a 20-storey mixed-use building on an 8,000-square-metre site adjacent to the Metro station. The structure will feature energy-efficient design elements, accessible circulation, and enhanced trader amenities such as parking, recreation areas, and event spaces. Each retail unit in the upcoming complex will measure approximately 400 square feet, designed to accommodate existing traders with priority allotments at base rates, while additional shops will be sold at market prices. The project also reserves two levels for vehicle parking and four floors for retail operations, complemented by facilities such as a gymnasium, gaming zone, and function hall to create a multi-utility urban space.
Authorities have confirmed that the iconic Ganesh Temple within the Cotton Market precinct will remain preserved, with improved access and community amenities developed around it. “Redevelopment must protect local heritage and trading culture while introducing sustainable and inclusive infrastructure,” said an official involved in the project. The entire redevelopment is expected to be completed within five years. During this period, traders will be temporarily relocated, with officials assuring that all affected vendors will receive fair and transparent rehabilitation. Many traders have suggested maintaining shop clusters in the same rows to ensure business continuity and familiar spatial arrangements.
Parallelly, the city’s Flower Market is also being relocated from Sitabuldi to Ganeshpeth, where a new three-storey structure will provide dedicated facilities for florists, including improved loading and unloading zones, and climate-controlled storage areas to preserve perishable goods. Until construction is completed, a temporary market will operate on NIT-owned land near Kisan Bhavan. Urban planners view this initiative as an opportunity to reimagine Nagpur’s core markets through an environmentally conscious lens. Experts have called for features such as natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting, and rooftop solar installations to reduce the buildings’ carbon footprint. “Market redevelopment should go beyond aesthetics — it should support local livelihoods, strengthen public spaces, and align with Nagpur’s sustainable growth goals,” a city-based planner noted.
As Nagpur positions itself as a growing urban centre in central India, MSIDC’s approach signals a shift towards integrating traditional commerce with climate-resilient infrastructure and inclusive city planning.
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