Mangaluru: A sewage treatment plant, a bio-digester, a cold storage facility and roof-top solar panels are among the additional amenities mooted in the concept plan of the new Central Market which will be rebuilt by demolishing the existing one at Hampankatta under Mangaluru Smart City Mission. This was stated by the consultant of the mission at a meeting with traders chaired by U.T. Khader, Minister for Urban Development and Housing here on Friday.

The concept plan envisages parking facility for 583 cars and 146 motor bikes; besides 596 shops for vegetable, fruit, meat and fish markets within in the same building.

The market will cover around 3.60 acres, and will take up to three years for it to come up.

The proposal is currently being scrutinised by the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation, said Mohammed Nazir, Commissioner of Mangaluru City Corporation, who is also the Managing Director of Mangaluru Smart City Ltd .

After it passes the scrutiny, a high-powered committee of the State government will give its consent; following which bids could be invited.

The minister asked the traders to cooperate to make the project a reality. The meeting was called to take the traders into confidence before going ahead with the project. Mr. Khader asked the project consultant to design the building project suitable to Mangaluru considering the heavy rains. “It should be a Mangaluru model and not Singapore or any other model,” he said.

Sasikanth Senthil S., Deputy Commissioner, said the traders in the building now would have to be temporarily moved elsewhere, for which some places have been identified.