BDA to develop two shopping malls

Project also aims to construct 14 markets; to be executed in three phases across City

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will construct 14 markets at various locations in the City.

According to the documents obtained by Deccan Herald under RTI Act, the civic agency has received the detailed project reports (DPRs) to develop markets at 10 places in the City. “The job of preparing the DPRs was entrusted to Naveen Consultants, Architects and Engineers, a third party agency, at a cost of Rs 15.52 lakh.”

As a development agency, we have to look at providing amenities for all kind of people. While our primary focus will be to cater to the low income group, the shopping mall idea will provide an avenue to the affluent class,” said a BDA official. A shopping mall-cum-multiplex will come up in Indiranagar and Austin Town each.

Both the areas already have a BDA complex. The two malls will be constructed in the second phase of the market development programme. In the first phase, the markets at Malleswaram and Seshadaripuram will be developed. Tenders have been invited for the latter, a senior BDA official said. The third phase of the market development will cover Vijayanagar and RT Nagar.

However, sources in the BDA said developers have evinced little interest in the market development projects.

“A few contractors have the capacity to bid for such huge projects in the City. They also face problem in providing the requisite manpower for the completion of the projects,” the source said.

Another consulting firm, entrusted with preparing DPR for development of some markets, said the BDA appears to have little or no funds for the projects under its belt. A representative of the firm said projects have come to a standstill due to lack of funds in the BDA. The officials in the authority too confirmed this view stating that the project had been conceptualised in phases to make up for shortage of funds.

Proposed markets

* Malleswaram
* Seshadripuram
* Cambridge Layout
* HAL (2nd Stage)
* HAL (2nd Stage, near BWSS office)                                                                                                                                                                                                         * Austin Town (shopping mall
     and multiplex)
* Indiranagar  (shopping mall
     and multiplex)
* Domlur Market
* Austin Town Market
* Indiranagar Market
* Whitefield
* Jayanagar
* KR Puram