BDA readies Malleswaram market handover to GBA after 12-year delay

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is finalising a concessionaire agreement for the redeveloped Malleswaram flower market on Sampige Road, and is ready to hand over 192 shops on the ground floor to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) for allotment to displaced vendors. The old market was demolished in 2014, and vendors have been selling on the footpath for 12 years.

A senior BDA official said the building structure is complete, with 192 shops created on the ground floor of the G+5 building. The project faced delays due to a late site handover, the pandemic, changes in the National Building Code, hard rock during foundation work, and flooding. Vendors like Tayamma, who has sold flowers for over 35 years, said many shopkeepers have died or shut down during the wait and there is still no word on allotment.

The BDA has selected a highest bidder as concessionaire for 30 years (extendable by another 30) on the DBFOT model. The firm will pay Rs 90 lakh every four months (Rs 2.7 crore annually) to operate, maintain, and lease out the five upper floors. The two basements can park 235 cars, and a separate Multi-Level Car Parking for 288 cars is planned at an estimated Rs 20 crore, pending BDA board approval.