Meat sellers set for new home in KR Market

The city’s iconic KR Market is set for a major overhaul, and the entire meat market is going to be rebuilt as part of the BBMP’s smart city project.

As part of the renovation work, meat sellers will have to temporarily shift their shops to the main market when work begins in July under the BBMP’s smart city project.

“The entire meat market is going to be rebuilt,” said Suresh GP, chief engineer-in-charge of the smart city project. “We have no other way but shift the existing shops to the main market until the renovation is complete. The vendors need to slightly adjust for sometime.”

But the heritage building will not be touched. “We are only carrying out electrification works and refurbishing the flooring of the main heritage building. Minor renovation works will be taken up in the postal building,” he added.

Weighing in the on the issue, former mayor Katte Sathyanarayana said no changes had been made to his smart city project proposal. “No changes have been made to my proposal as per my knowledge,” he said. Since the heritage building will remain untouched by the BBMP, he said there is no need to seek permission from heritage authorities.

But a member of one of the associations of the market cited a few problems relating to the project such as lack of basic facilities and consultation.“There are no public toilets or drinking water facility here. The BBMP contractors pick up garbage three times via 3 compactors every day but no action has been taken against offenders who are using the parking lot as a urinal. The palike should think of providing basic facilities before kick-starting big smart projects,” he said.

He also complained that the BBMP did not consult or communicate with the vendors about the temporary displacement. However, officials claimed that project proposals have been developed following feedback from representatives of the vendors. Inputs from ground analysis and surveys have also been incorporated, they said.

Scientific waste disposal

Another chief engineer of the smart city project, on condition of anonymity, said the BBMP will also bring in scientific methods of waste management.

“We are going to install sensor-based bins which will be connected to the IT cell of BBMP. It will be easy for us to clear bins. We will also have waste-to-energy plant in the market,” he said.

Connectivity to the metro station, parking and a new bus shelter are also on the cards. The loading-unloading docks have been streamlined, the market building is upgraded and heritage elements enhanced with external illumination. Vendor plazas are organised providing a customer-centric experience, with surrounding roads redesigned with landscape and lighting. Sustainable energy measures such as green roofing, solar energy, building management systems, organic waste collection and management are part of the project proposal.