Russell, other markets to have new look

BANGALORE: You would have gone in circles to park your vehicle when you visited Russell Market or Kalasipalya Market. Now, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike is dreaming big for 2011. It plans to modernize market places giving priority to parking lots.
If its plans go well, then the age-old Russell market could finally get a facelift with a parking base by the end of 2011.The markets at Kalasipalya and K R Puram will see a swanky bus station and commercial hub respectively. The palike hopes to kick-start the works on this long-planned modernization of its old market areas across the city. The markets are likely to have parking facilities that would accommodate over 250 four-wheelers, shops with better infrastructure, public toilets, ramps and other facilities for the shoppers.
According to a senior BBMP official, a minimum 20 markets will be taken up in the first phase of the project in this New Year. "Parking lots will be an integral part of all these remodelling projects. The DPRs (detailed project reports) are presently under preparation. These include the markets at Gandhi Bazaar, Yediyur, Moore market at Cox town," the official told TOI.
Further, BBMP has also entered into an MoU with Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) recently to work on the renovation of markets at Kalasipalya and K R Market respectively. These agencies will be involved in funding and planning of the projects, considering the joint interests. Accordingly, the market at Kalasipalya will be attached to the new bus station here and the K R market will also have a commercial centre.