Nagpur Municipal Corporation gets bidder for Budhwar Bazaar project planned in 2012

NAGPUR: After proposing in 2012 to construct a ground-plus-nine storey commercial complex in place of the existing Budhwar Bazaar in Mahal, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation has finally shortlisted a firm for the project in 2022.
Former corporator Dayashankar Tiwari had proposed the project during his tenure as standing committee chairman in 2012 on build-operate and transfer (BOT) model. However, the NMC received no response from private players for developing the project after inviting the tenders.
In 2019, the civic body’s project department had estimated the cost at Rs99.79 crore. But early this year, it revised the estimated cost and the NMC concluded that if it constructs the complex on its own, it will require Rs150 crore. Besides, it will also have to settle many disputes too.
On getting no response to execute the project on BOT basis, the NMC changed its plan and decided to construct it on the lines of Orange City Mall. “Now, the civic body plans to develop the shopping complex through design, build, finance, operate and sale basis,” an official from NMC’s project department told TOI.
Even then there was no response from any developer in the first tender call, said sources. Recently, a firm was shortlisted during the second call, the official said.
Though one firm from Bhopal has been shortlisted in the recently closed online bidding for the project, the NMC officials said technical verification of documents is pending, which will be done shortly.
“If the firm is finalised, it will take almost three more years to complete the project,” the official explained.
The building will come up on 24,967sq.mt land. In the first stage, the NMC will rehabilitate the existing 332 shopkeepers from the bazaar. The ground floor will consist of platforms for vegetable vendors, while other floors will house shops, multiplexes and a hospital, said the official.
Sources, however, pointed out that similar to the opposition by owners of shops under the railway station flyover, the NMC is likely to face a challenge at Budhwar Bazaar also. The existing shopkeepers were demanding road-facing shops in the new complex. Any stand-off on this count may delay the project further as the aggrieved parties may approach the court.