A vehicle-free Sadar Bazaar? MCG’s big revamp plan for oldest market

  • | Saturday | 18th August, 2018

GURUGRAM: MCG is chalking up a plan to give a major makeover to Sadar Bazaar after a successful anti-encroachment drive in the the city’s oldest shopping hub. The move seems to have worked but it remains to be seen if the makeover plan achieves the same success. It has to be redeveloped with appropriate parking space and proper lighting which would make a lot of difference to business,” said Vicky Bansal who runs Calcutta Emporium.“MCG keeps making promises but hardly delivers. Shop owners were made responsible for ensuring that hawkers did not come back and park in front of their shops. Another focus area would be sanitation and setting up of public toilets,” said Kalia.Even as the plan aims to revive Sadar Bazaar, it seems a bit too ambitious given the market’s condition.

GURUGRAM: MCG is chalking up a plan to give a major makeover to Sadar Bazaar after a successful anti-encroachment drive in the the city’s oldest shopping hub. According to the plan, the market’s lanes would be declared no-vehicle zones and beautified.MCG officials said the Sadar Bazaar project would include beautification and sanitation works as well as development of green spaces and parking facilities.“We are trying to turn this place around and make it a public space that can be used as a shopping hub as well as for recreational purposes,” said Vivek Kalia, joint commissioner, MCG.When asked if the lack of space would be an issue, Kalia said that officials would free up space by removing all squatters, banning illegal parking and making the market a strictly no-vehicle zone.“There will be parking facilities in the vicinity of the market from where customers can take e-rickshaws to reach the main shopping hub,” he added.Kalia said that the new design for the market might draw inspiration from Gurugram’s Galleria market.According to officials, the project has been under discussion for a month and an architect has been asked to submit a report soon.Officials said that the plan was likely to be finalised within the next two months and though the cost estimate was not available yet, it would not be more than Rs 3 crore. Once ready, the proposal would be tabled in the House for its approval.Under the project, lamp posts, street furniture and fountains would be installed in the market. “Additionally, sewage treatment plants will be set up in the vicinity to supply water to the fountains. Another focus area would be sanitation and setting up of public toilets,” said Kalia.Even as the plan aims to revive Sadar Bazaar, it seems a bit too ambitious given the market’s condition. The number of squatters have come down but sanitation, illegal parking and congestion are still big issues.The shop owners showed their support for the plan but at the same time, sounded sceptical about what MCG would be able to pull off.“This is the oldest market in the city and so many people, including foreigners, come here. It has to be redeveloped with appropriate parking space and proper lighting which would make a lot of difference to business,” said Vicky Bansal who runs Calcutta Emporium.“MCG keeps making promises but hardly delivers. The market does not have even basic facilities such as toilets and water. So, we have a long way to go before its beautification,” said Kanhaiya Lal Panwar from Haryana Vyapar Mandal.Earlier in June, MCG sealed 70 shops for encroaching on the market’s lanes. Shop owners were made responsible for ensuring that hawkers did not come back and park in front of their shops. The move seems to have worked but it remains to be seen if the makeover plan achieves the same success.

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