Bandra fair: Church Road stall auction gets lukewarm response

Bandra is gearing up for the annual eight-day fair, celebrated by Christians in the second week of September. This year, so far, the municipal corporation has managed to auction 13 of the 20 premium stalls set up on Church Road. The only bid received for Stall No. 1 (closest to the Mount Mary Church) was for Rs 2.76 lakh, while the highest bid for stall No. 2 was Rs 1.51 lakh, said a Bandra ward official. No applications were received for the remaining seven plots.

Unlike last year, the highest-priced plot received only one application, bidding Rs 2.76 lakh and the plot went to that applicant. Last year, the plot had received multiple bids and was auctioned for Rs 4.56 lakh, the official said.

BMC auctions 430 plots to vendors who wish to set up stalls during the Bandra Fair every year. For the convenience of vendors, there are different coloured forms for different plots – for instance, pink forms are for 20 stalls on Church Road. Also, those who want to participate in the auction for these 20 stalls, the opening bid must be more than Rs 68,500, as decided by the BMC.

The auction began on Tuesday and will continue on Wednesday. The stalls are set up on the roads connecting to the church. Of the 430 plots, 280 are for stalls on the Mount Mary-Kane Road. There are 100 plots on St John the Baptist Road, while on Rebello Road, there are 50 plots. The 20 plots near the church always fetch the highest price. "These stalls are very near the church, so vendors are interested in bidding for these plots even if it costs them more. For many vendors who set up stalls every year, it is a matter of prestige to get these stalls," said the civic official.