July 29, 2025: The long-standing dispute between Mumbai’s local fishing community and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over the redevelopment of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (CSM) Fish Market at Crawford Market continues to escalate, with little sign of resolution.
The civic body’s proposal to shift the fish section to the basement level of the newly redeveloped structure has been met with firm resistance from the Mumbai Fish Dealers’ Association (MFDA), prompting officials to explore alternative options to placate the vendors.
Originally established in 1971, the CSM market is a multi-storey structure consisting of a basement, ground floor, and four upper levels. Following a structural audit in 2012, the building was declared unsafe. In response to a public interest litigation, the Bombay High Court in July 2021 ordered the BMC to vacate the premises and relocate the 348 licensed fish vendors to other municipal markets.
However, the relocation plan has sparked significant opposition from fisherfolk, who argue that moving the fish market to a basement would jeopardise their livelihoods. A recent meeting between representatives of the All Maharashtra Fisherfolk Action Committee (AMFAC) and BMC officials aimed to address these concerns. Devendra Damodar Tandel, president of AMFAC, insisted the market be shifted to the ground floor or to a nearby public plot specifically reserved for such use. He also rejected the idea of vendors being relocated to footpaths, calling such measures unviable and unacceptable.
Assistant Municipal Commissioner Manish Valanju confirmed receipt of the vendors’ demands and stated that engineers are currently reviewing the objections to assess the feasibility of changes to the plan.
Last month, BMC awarded the redevelopment contract—valued at Rs 369 crore—to AAV Developers LLP under a 30-year lease, extendable by another 30 years. The market, with an annual turnover of Rs 2,000 crore, continues to be a vital trading hub for fisherfolk from across the Konkan coast.
Source: The Free Press Journal
