Mumbai : A major dispute has erupted between the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the city’s fishing community over the proposed relocation of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (CSM) Fish Market to a basement level in the redeveloped Crawford Market.
The Mumbai Fish Dealers’ Association (MFDA) and All Maharashtra Fisherfolk Action Committee (AMFAC) have strongly opposed the basement shift, citing concerns about business viability and impact on traditional livelihoods. They have instead demanded ground-floor allocation or development of a dedicated market nearby.
Following a 2012 audit that deemed the 50-year-old market structure unsafe, the Bombay High Court in 2021 ordered relocation of 348 licensed vendors. In response, the BMC awarded a ₹369-crore redevelopment contract to AAV Developers LLP under a 30-year lease agreement.
Fisherfolk say temporary relocation to footpaths is unacceptable and have urged the civic body to halt such plans. The BMC has acknowledged the vendors’ objections and is reviewing alternative solutions.
The CSM Fish Market, a key hub with an annual turnover of ₹2,000 crore, serves vendors from across the Konkan coast. The outcome of this standoff could shape the future of Mumbai’s traditional fishing economy.
