CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Vijayanagara MLA M Krishnappa on Sunday inaugurated south India’s first underground air-conditioned market in Bengaluru. ‘Krishnadevaraya Palike Bazaar’, built at an expense of Rs 13 crore, is located next to the Vijayanagar metro station and bus stand.
The concept of an underground market is expected to bring the issues of footpath invasion by hawkers and rivalry between licensed traders and others to a permanent rest.
The first of its kind in southern India, the market is 136-metre-long and 11-metre-wide with 79 underground shops. The market is reportedly equipped with sensor-enabled sliding doors, two escalators, and a lift facility. While the market is centrally air-conditioned, 31 shops have their own air-conditioning facility, reports said. Each shop occupies about nine square metres of space. The project was completed by Parichita Constructions, a private firm.