Rail Bazaar at major stations on the horizon

Railway stations in the city may soon have a ‘Rail Bazaar’, which would help solve the issue of encroachment on footpaths and facilitate the ease of buying daily household needs for railway commuters. A Congress corporator has moved a notice of motion and the matter is likely to come up during the civic general body meeting on June 20.

Anil Patankar, Congress corporator from M-West ward has submitted a  proposal to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar to develop a market near major railway stations and hold a combined meeting with the state and central government administration.

“Mumbai is the financial capital and over around 70 lakh people from different walks of life commute through railways. However, many of them return home late in the evening and some of them during the night when most shops are closed, missing out on purchasing daily household needs.” He added that a Rail Bazaar near railway stations will facilitate the ease of purchasing household items while returning home. 

Patankar says the civic body can initiate the process of acquiring land to develop the market. He added that this will also solve the issue of encroachment on footpaths near railway stations as the Rail Bazaar will provide hawkers with a permanent space to sell their wares.