November 20th 2023.
The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has recently tendered a project to carry out structural repairs to Hawkers Plaza at Dadar West. This includes repairs to common toilets, painting, strengthening of beams and water proofing, with the total estimated cost of Rs. 9 crore. The five-story building was constructed in 2001, in an effort to provide a place for the hawkers operating in the non-hawking area of Dadar.
Dadar Station is an important hub in Mumbai, connecting the Western and Central lines, and is surrounded by numerous vegetable and flower markets. As such, it sees lakhs of footfall every day. The BMC had earlier spent Rs. 30 crores to construct the plaza, but the hawkers refused to move in, believing that customers wouldn't come to the building, which was out of their way. Consequently, the ground and first floors of the building are occupied by a cloth market, while wholesalers of onion, potatoes and vegetables occupy other floors.
Last year, the BMC had invited a tender for the structural repairs of the building. However, in an effort to avoid leakages, they had to include additional work such as water proofing. A civic official of BMC's market department said that when the hawkers refused to move in, they gave the galas to people who approached them. He added that there are 895 galas, and around 237 and 303 stalls on the ground and first floors respectively, which are occupied. Also, fresh applications from hawkers for the galas have been received.
The BMC's move to enhance the structural repairs of the Hawkers Plaza at Dadar West is timely and welcome, in light of the Central Railway's Dadar Station Widening Project nearing completion. This project has been taken up to improve the commuter experience and provide additional amenities at the station.
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