BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani inspects the delayed redevelopment of Goregaon’s Topiwala Market, directing officials to fast-track the completion of the first two floors | File Photo
Mumbai: Amidst a six-year delay in the construction of the Topiwala Market in Goregaon, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani took matters into his own hands by personally inspecting the site on Thursday. During the visit, he directed the officials to expedite the completion of the initial two floors, ensuring that tenants can start utilizing the space for business purposes as soon as possible.
The old market building and an adjacent theater were demolished in 2018, but construction faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the appointment of a new contractor. As per the revised plan, the 16-story building, being constructed on a prime 3,438 square meter plot, will feature an auditorium with a seating capacity of 800.
The commercial space will feature 206 shops, with 112 located on the ground floor and 94 on the first floor. In addition, the building will offer 53 residential apartments, parking facility for 192 vehicles, while the rooftop will be dedicated to recreational amenities.
During visit Gagrani said, “All aspects related to the project must be implemented promptly so that the space becomes available for business use within the next year. To offer relief to the tenants, the initial phase of construction should focus on completing the first two floors, enabling them to start using the space for commercial purposes without further delay.” The redevelopment of this landmark project is scheduled for completion within 30 months.
The Goregaon Market Traders Welfare Association had approached the BMC’s market department for redevelopment. Consequently, M/s. Shashi Prabhu and Associates were appointed as project managers, and M/s. Seth Construction was awarded the Rs 125.71 crore contract in 2018.
After a two-year pause, work resumed in 2022, but the contractor’s contract expired. A request to lift the 10% cap on cost escalations was rejected, resulting in the cancellation of the original contract and a new tender for the remaining work. Due to delays, including tax adjustments, the total cost has now increased to Rs 202 crore.
