The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is all set to turn its existing markets into shopping complexes to compete with the retail giants mushrooming across the city. The civic market department has selected two major municipal markets — VIP Market near Kankurgachi and Sakher Bazar in Behala — which will be revamped in P-P-P (public-private-partnership) model.
“We have already floated tenders for soil testing and inspection of the structural stability of the two markets. If the stability is ensured then we would go ahead with our plans to develop these markets through the P-P-P model,” member mayor-in-council, markets, Debasish Kumar said.
Elaborating on the proposed plan of renovation, Mr Kumar said that after getting the structural stability report, the market department has proposed to add extra floors to the existing market buildings. While VIP Market is spread over an area of around four bighas on CIT Road, the Sakher Bazar Market is located on a plot of five bighas on Diamond Harbour Road.
“We have proposed to add extra five floors to the existing three-storied structure of the VIP Market,” the MMiC said.
The MMiC further added that the civic board also plans to revamp the S.N. Roy Market in Behala and Bansdroni Market. “However, we would demolish the existing S.N. Roy Market structure and construct a new building,” he explained.