Amid poor footfall, Bengaluru’s underground AC market business dips 50% | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: Krishnadevaraya Palike Bazaar in Vijayanagar, south India’s much-hyped first air-conditioned underground market that was opened in Aug last year, is limping towards its first anniversary with little to show. The market has turned into a damp squib for vendors, who said business is down by at least 50%.Vendors complained of poor footfall, citing factors such as unallocated shops and ongoing whitetopping work near the entrance. Disheartened and left with mounting losses, many vendors who had set up shops with high hopes are now leaving. Moreover, BBMP is yet to finalise the list of vendors.Prasad Kumar, a 33-year-old vendor handling his family’s 20-year-old business in the area, said, “I started selling puja supplies at the bazaar since Ugadi. Previously, I would make at least Rs 1,000 a day. Now, I barely earn Rs 100. I waited six months hoping things would get better. But I set up my stand on the road now, while I keep the stock in the market. We came here hoping for a fresh start, but with almost no customers and most of the shops shut, it’s just not working.“Chandraiah, a daily wager who works at a nearby store, said, “There are barely any customers. Most people don’t even know there’s a market underground.” Srinivas N, a vendor, echoed similar grievance. “I have been selling fruits here for the past 15 years but never saw such poor business. The business is down by 40% since we were allotted shops in the bazaar. But I have no alternative either,” he said.Abdul Riyaz, a fruit seller in the area for 12 years, said, “Business is down by at least 50%. The white-topping work outside has made things worse. Customers can’t access the market easily. Unallocated shops are also a hurdle, as customers are hesitant to enter the underground market. We asked officials about shop allocations but haven’t heard from them yet.”Gopi Naidu, president of Vijayanagar vegetables vendors’ association, said, “Out of 78 members, only 50 received allotments. It’s true that business is down, but we’re told tenders will be issued soon.”BBMP officials told TOI tenders haven’t been issued as they are waiting for senior officials for the process to begin. Meanwhile, Vijayanagar MLA M Krishnappa, who gave permission for 50 vendors, said tenders will be issued in the next 15 days.The Rs 13-crore market, with 79 shops, two escalators, a lift, sensor-enabled doors and 31 ACs was pitched as a modern solution to street vending issues. It was inaugurated by chief minister Siddaramaiah, who called it a first-of-its-kind project in south India and a model for other parts of Bengaluru. During inauguration, officials and politicians had said it would protect vendors from rain, sun and evictions. The market work started in 2017 and took almost seven years for completion.