Attention Bengaluru! Get ready to go underground shopping as Palike Bazaar opens after six years of construction: Report

Bengaluru's new Palike Bazaar, an underground market, has officially opened after six years of construction, providing an air-conditioned space for vendors.

Published on: Aug 26, 2024, 15:15:05 IST

By Yamini C S

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Bengaluru’s long-awaited Palike Bazaar, a cutting-edge underground market, has finally opened its doors to the public after nearly six years of construction. The grand inauguration took place on Sunday (August 25), with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah cutting the ribbon, The Hindu reported.

Bengaluru's first underground market: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah highlighted the project’s benefits for vendors previously exposed to harsh weather conditions. (Naveen Menezes/X)

Built at a cost of ₹13 crore, this high-tech, air-conditioned market is modelled after New Delhi’s Palika Bazaar and is touted as the first of its kind in South India. The Palike Bazaar is designed to provide local vendors with a modern, weather-proof space, moving them off the harsh streets and into a comfortable environment.

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“The Palike Bazaar aims to provide a modern and comfortable environment for vendors who previously had to endure harsh weather conditions while conducting their business on the streets,” CM Siddaramaiah said at the inauguration, as quoted in the report.

Spanning several sections, the market houses 136 stalls in the Small Vendor Zone, 11 stalls for special vendors, and nine general vendor zones. To ensure smooth operations, 79 market officers have been appointed, and the facility features a comprehensive safety system, including 250 street lights and strategically placed fire extinguishers, the publication noted.

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Officials from Bengaluru's civic administrative body, the BBMP, highlighted that this initiative is part of a larger plan to create dedicated market spaces within the city.

Reflecting on the project, Siddaramaiah recalled his early involvement, “When I was Chief Minister in 2017, I had approved the project for ₹5 crores as requested by the M. Krishnappa, Vijayanagar MLA, which was his dream.” With its modern amenities and thoughtful design, the Palike Bazaar is set to transform the vendor experience in Bengaluru.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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