Bandra fair: One stall goes for Rs 4.56 lakh

Like every year, this year too the BMC ward office of Bandra West has successfully managed to get the highest bidder for stalls set up around Mount Mary church for the annual Bandra fair which is to begin from Sunday.

The licence department officials have auctioned one stall of the 20 stalls for Rs. 4.56 lakh to Carol Miranda and another for Rs. 2.23lakh to Richard Miranda.

For the ten-day Bandra fair, BMC auctions places to vendors and shopkeepers so that they can construct temporary stalls to sell their wares. A senior civic officer from the licence department stated that the minimum bid price of the municipal corporation is Rs. 60,500. “The vendors are willing to pay more for the stalls if they are set up near the church area and therefore every year the bid value we receive is in lakhs. Last year the same stall was sold at Rs. 4.5 lakh while this year the bid value increased by Rs.6,000,” he said.

Every year BMC auctions 430 stall places during the festival. Out of 480, 280 stalls are set up at Mount Mary-Kane Road. Baptist Road has 100 stalls and there are a 50 stalls at Rebello Road. While the 20 stalls near the church vicinity are sold to the highest bidders only.

As a huge crowd is expected during the fair, civic officials along with policemen keep a tight watch. Another officer from the civic body said,“For the convenience of citizens and to keep the streets and station premises encroachment free extra manpower from other adjoining wards is also taken.”