Rs 12.3 cr market complex closed for 3 years since inauguration

Mangaluru: The new market complex at Urwa, that was inaugurated in January 2019, has remained closed due to technical reasons, after Rs 12.3 crore was spent on it.
The three-storey market complex spread over 84,891 sq ft, with 122 stalls and a parking lot, was built by the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) at Urwa, after vacating all vendors. However, the market complex could not be made functional, due to confusion regarding its operation and maintenance. The MCC is now waiting for a government clearance, to take over the market complex from the MUDA.
The then district minister B Ramanath Rai, had laid the foundation stone for the market complex in 2016, and then urban development minister U T Khader inaugurated it on January 27, 2019, weeks before the declaration of the Lok Sabha election. To facilitate its construction, all vendors who were conducting business in the old market, were shifted to a makeshift market yard in 2016.
The idea was to provide space for fish outlets and stalls for mutton, vegetables, fruits, flowers, canteen, and premises for other business establishments, in the new market complex. The new complex also has provisions to accommodate offices. All vendors, who were conducting business at the location, were shifted to a temporary market yard, when the project was taken up in December 2016.
To end confusion regarding the operation and maintenance of the new market complex, the MCC has sent a proposal to the government, said MCC commissioner Akshy Sridhar.
“The Urwa market complex will be taken over by the MCC, from MUDA’s possession. The council of the city corporation has already adopted a resolution in this regard. We have sent a proposal, seeking a nod from the government, to take over the market. Once the government approves our proposal, the market will be opened,” the commissioner said.