Mumbai : The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (CSM) Fish Market Association has strongly opposed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) decision to relocate vendors to the redeveloped Mahatma Jyotiba Phule (Crawford) Market building, citing safety and operational concerns. The association has also demanded the cancellation of the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) awarded to AVA Developer, which won the Rs 369 crore bid for a 30-year lease of the 8,116 sq mt plot housing the CSM fish market.
Association president Balwant Pawar questioned the BMC’s decision to alter the plot’s reservation from “Municipal Market” to “Municipal Office,” calling for the civic body to redevelop the market instead of handing it to a private firm.
Pawar highlighted that the new Crawford Market building’s underground setup poses serious safety risks, including inadequate ventilation and narrow ramps unsuitable for fish transport trucks. “Running a fish market on two underground floors is unsafe. In case of fire or mishap, the situation could go out of control,” he said.
The association has held meetings with BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani to present their objections, while two scheduled meetings with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were postponed.
The BMC, meanwhile, remains firm on its plan to permanently relocate the fish vendors from Dadar and CSM markets to Crawford Market. Temporary sheds have been set up on MRA Marg for vendors, but these too have drawn criticism for occupying road space.
Fishermen have also expressed logistical difficulties, saying transporting heavy fish loads from truck parking areas to underground stalls is impractical and unhygienic.
Despite opposition, the BMC maintains that the relocation plan will move forward as part of its broader market redevelopment initiative.
