The much-delayed redevelopment of Malleswaram flower market is almost complete, and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is finalising a concessionaire agreement for its operation and maintenance and is ready to hand over shops meant for flower vendors in the old market to Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).

This has raised hopes of vendors of finally moving into the redeveloped market.

The old flower market on Sampige Road was demolished and taken up for redevelopment in 2014, displacing 192 vendors who had permits and all related documents for their shops in the old market.

The long wait

Tayamma, a flower vendor for over 35 years in the Malleswaram flower market, said it had been 12 years and the structure of the building was now finally ready. “But there is no word yet as to when we will be allotted shops in the market,” she said. “During these 12 years, many shopkeepers even died, many ran into losses and have shut shops as well. Who will bear the cost for these losses?” asked another shopkeeper, who did not wish to be named.

A senior BDA official said that the structure of the building was ready and 192 shops had been created on the ground floor of the G+5 building. “We have written to the GBA asking them to allot these shops to vendors they have identified as genuine. It will be done soon,” the officer said.

The BDA official said that the project faced inordinate delays due to a host of challenges including delay in handing over a clear site from the civic body, pandemic, changes in National Building Code after the design was done apart from a hard rock found during the foundation for the building and flooding at the site.

Down the market lane - Malleshwaram Flower Market

2014

70,000 sqft plot; Proposal to build 5+2 floor building with lower and upper basements, G+5 floors and a Multi Level Car Parking

192 vendorsin the old market displaced and forced to vend on the footpath for 12 years now

235 cars, ground floor houses

192 shops, bare bones structure of five other floors completed

for 30 yearsfor its operation and maintenance on DBFOT model. Firm to design to suit customers on five floors, rent it out, operate and maintain the building and

pay BDA ₹2.7 crore per year

another 288 cars.

Concessionaire agreement

The BDA has redeveloped the old market into a G+5 floor building, with two basements for parking. While the ground floor of this building will house the flower market, five other floors are open for commercial use. The BDA invited tenders to select a concessionaire for the same.

“A company has now been selected as the highest bidder. It will pay ₹90 lakh for four months to the BDA, amounting to ₹2.7 crore annually, with hikes in this planned over the years. The concessionaire period is for 30 years, extendable by another 30 years depending on the company’s performance. The highest bidder has been approved by the BDA board and the work will begin soon,” the official said.

The concessionaire will come onboard on the Design/Decorate, Build, Finance, Operate, Lease and Transfer (DBFOT) model. The BDA has only prepared the structure of the building on the four floors available for the concessionaire, who has to further design and build suitable to the customers the firm gets to rent the space to. The concessionaire will also have to operate and maintain the building. The firm can also use the terrace.

Multi-level Car Parking

The upper and lower basement in the redeveloped market building can accommodate 235 cars. This will also be operated by the concessionaire and can charge for parking.

Further, the BDA plans to build a Multi-Level Car Parking (MLCP) facility on the same land, at an estimated cost of ₹20 crore, which hasn’t taken off yet. “We have prepared a Detailed Project Report for the MLCP and will soon place it before the BDA board for approval. Once the board approves, we will begin work on the project, now that the market is completed. The proposed MLCP will have a capacity to accommodate 288 cars,” said a senior BDA official.

Published - August 17, 2026 06:01 am IST