Soon, city might have municipal markets that look like malls

MUMBAI: The city might soon have municipal markets that look like shopping malls. According to the draft policy guidelines for redevelopment of municipal markets, a standard design template with a modern fireproof building, with an in-built firefighting system, also specially designed to prevent water logging, will be followed and replicated in all markets. Cleanliness will be the main aesthetic of these buildings.

Prakash Rasal, assistant municipal commissioner (markets), said policy guidelines proposed are awaiting clearance from municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal. The redeveloped market buildings will have a model template with separate entry and exits along with a separate floor for the products.

“All fish and meat products will be sold on the ground floor only, vegetables and fruits on the first floor and grocery galas selling masalas and condiments will be on the upper floors. Earlier, there was mixed activity where vegetables and fish would be sold together. There will be a concept of force ventilation in these market buildings with a separate duct, which will have a pipe arrangement to minimise odour,” he said. The markets will sport a swanky look but will not be air conditioned, except in cold storages, in order to save on electricity consumption. This will be a common design followed for all markets henceforth. The new market buildings will also have sprinklers and smoke detectors with hooters. There will be fire escape staircases and a fire lift provided. The building will be fireproof without any water logging issue due to storm water drain system. Rasal said the guidelines also include 10feet wide passages in the buildings. “The overall look and elevation will be good which is seen in commercial buildings. There will be underground and overhead tanks as per fire brigade’s requirement. There will be sufficient parking facilities, which were not present before,” said Rasal. The building will be aesthetically appealing with cold storage, and a separate loading and unloading area for goods. “The non-veg area will have proper hygienic sewage system with proper toilets. There will be a fire tank provided with 1.5lakh litres of water. The markets will be at par with shopping malls with escalators,” said Rasal.

All future markets will be designed on the Navalkar market template in Jogeshwari East and the highlights of policy guidelines are based on this building design. The Navalkar Market has already got an administrative sanction but their earlier plan to build a 16-storey building was shelved due to nonapproval from the Railways. Instead, the Navalkar market will be a 10-storey building now.

“Due to an additional railway line, the Railways are not permitting 16 floors but only 10 floors now for redevelopment. Now, we have increased the plinth level and reduced the number of floors for Navalkar market. The passage width will be 10feet,”said Rasal.

There will be a long canopy, a porch, so that at least 50 people can take shelter during rains and a a separate area to collect garbage in the market premises. Every floor will have 70-80 galas and a total 231 galas will be present in this market and a parking facility for 150 cars will be provided.

Municipal markets in city might look like this as the proposed design plan suggests.

HT PHOTO