The relocation plan comes in the wake of safety concerns surrounding the old Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Market building, located near the BMC headquarters
Pic/BMC
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced that the permanent rehabilitation of licensed fish vendors previously operating at the now-defunct Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Market will begin in August 2025 at the newly redeveloped Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market. The BMC expects the move to significantly benefit fish vendors, especially from the Koli community, by providing them with modern facilities designed to support and grow their trade.
The relocation plan comes in the wake of safety concerns surrounding the old Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Market building, located near the BMC headquarters. The structure, which comprised a basement, ground floor, and four upper levels, was declared structurally dangerous during a 2012 audit. Acting on directions from the Hon’ble High Court during a Public Interest Litigation hearing, the BMC vacated the building in July 2021 and temporarily relocated 348 licensed fish vendors to other municipal markets.
Fish vendors, Koli community representatives, and several public bodies have since been requesting rehabilitation in a nearby area to ensure business continuity. The BMC identified the redeveloped Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market (formerly Crawford Market), located in close proximity, as a suitable site. Between 2014 and 2016, the civic body included a dedicated fish market building in the redevelopment plan to accommodate the displaced vendors.
The new facility includes critical utilities such as electricity, water, sanitation, and fire safety systems, with the Occupancy Certificate expected shortly. Enhanced features such as refrigeration units, ramps, loading platforms, conveyor belts, lifts, and a parking area for 78 vehicles have also been incorporated. The premises further include a sewage and wastewater treatment plant (STP/ETP) and a landscaped green space spread over one acre within the historic market compound.
Of the total Rs 308 crore redevelopment budget, approximately Rs 110 crore has been earmarked for the fish vendors’ rehabilitation. According to the BMC, this investment reflects a focused effort to support the livelihoods of vendors and enhance the overall consumer experience. The civic body expressed confidence that the upgraded, state-of-the-art infrastructure will help rejuvenate the fishing trade in the heart of the city.
The BMC also addressed concerns raised by the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti, reiterating that all due process has been followed in consultation with stakeholders and that the new location is well-equipped to meet both current and future demands of the trade.
In a parallel development, the plot previously occupied by the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Market has been under the process of public leasing for the past six months. The tender process has now concluded, and officials clarified that no changes can be made to the outcome post-completion.
With the rehabilitation initiative entering its final phase, BMC officials emphasised that the move not only honours long-standing demands from the community but also marks a significant step in modernising traditional markets while preserving their cultural and economic relevance.
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