Mumbai After a seven-year hiatus, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has reignited the redevelopment of Topiwala Market in Goregaon West, near the Goregaon railway station, by floating a new ₹151-crore tender.
This ambitious redevelopment project, long mired in delays, aims to transform the market into a state-of-the-art, mixed-use facility. The redevelopment blueprint, crafted by architect Shashi Prabhu and Associates, envisions a ground-plus-16-storey edifice. The lower levels will house vegetable vendors, while the upper floors will incorporate parking podiums, an 800-seater auditorium for cultural events, and residential units designated for doctors associated with a forthcoming hospital in the vicinity.
A senior civic official provided insight into the project’s history, noting that in 2014, approximately 79 licensed vendors operated from dilapidated sheds on the ground floor. Initial efforts to vacate these vendors for redevelopment met with resistance, despite the BMC issuing a work order. This resistance significantly delayed the project. In 2016-17, the BMC awarded the tender to Sheth Constructions. However, lack of cooperation from the vendors and a subsequent court stay halted progress for a year and a half. The original tender was valued at around ₹125 crore. Once the court stay was lifted in 2019, excavation commenced, but the COVID-19 pandemic soon further stalled the project.
During the brief construction period, the contractor managed to lay the foundation and erect columns. Vendors were temporarily relocated to roadside spaces. However, due to the prolonged delay, the contractor sought an unlimited escalation of rates, which the BMC declined, leading to the foreclosure of the work. The official highlighted that the previous tender was based on 2013 rates, necessitating an update to reflect current market conditions. The new tender, adjusted to 2023 rates, now amounts to ₹151 crore. Although bids were initially slated to open on June 8, discrepancies in rates caused a delay. The revised opening date is now June 28, following the issuance of a corrigendum.
The official also noted that part of the delay was attributable to staff being assigned election duties. Despite these setbacks, the BMC remains optimistic that the renewed efforts will successfully bring the redevelopment of Topiwala Market to fruition, offering enhanced facilities and significantly upgrading the area’s infrastructure. This redevelopment is poised to benefit the local community by providing a modern marketplace, improved parking, cultural amenities, and housing for medical professionals, thereby fostering both economic and social development in Goregaon West.
