The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will end up paying higher construction cost due to the inordinate delay in building the Malleswaram market.
Sources in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike admitted that the cost of building the market has escalated, but they said only the BDA could determine the extent of the increase. BDA officials, however, are reluctant to give out the precise increase in costs.
Though the land belongs to the BBMP, the BDA took up the task of building the market. But the project was stalled for a long time due to complications and court proceedings.
Following the court clearance, the BBMP vacated the shops on the land and razed them since they were in a dilapidated condition. They built temporary structures for the shop owners.
The shop owners could not wait for the building to open. "I've been running my business (nearby) for more than 10 years. We face harassment from the police. Those on push carts also face trouble, since all of us are on the road," said a fruit seller, who did not wish to be named.