KR Market is a historic public market situated at the epicentre of the busiest commercial area in the city. It spread over 14 acres, with produce from local farmlands coming in every day. Despite being the city’s largest market, in terms of the volume of commodities sold, it has deteriorated into a chaotic mess – a serious health and safety hazard to vendors and customers. While the area is well connected to other parts of the city through bus and metro, the streets surrounding the market are jammed with trucks and buses, densely crowded, and teeming with market activity. The challenges are multi-fold and include gaps in operational organization, infrastructure provision, maintenance, waste management, traffic management, heritage management, etc.

The upgradation of KR Market –a historic land mark – is a Bengaluru Smart City initiative with a vision to bring together three critical elements of a city’s success – commerce, community and culture. An important aspect of the project is that project proposals have been developed from feedback loops with market representatives, and input from extensive ground analysis and surveys conducted.

The loading unloading docks of the market are stream-lined, while the market building itself is being upgraded with respect to infrastructure. To bring about a facelift to all the heritage buildings, enhanced external illumination is being provided. As an integral part of the project, the meat market and the post office are being rebuilt and connected to the Main market through a foot over bridge. The vending plazas around the market are to be organized providing a customer centric experience. Adding to this experience, the surrounding roads are redesigned with appropriate lighting and landscaping, public toilets are being renovated and the third floor of the main market is opened up to the public as a food plaza.  Sustainable energy measures such as green roofing, solar energy, building management systems, organic waste collection and management are part of the project proposal. Fire and safety plans have been built into the market buildings.

The KR Market project aims to transform the market into a sustainable, thriving centre of economic, cultural and social importance, whilst safeguarding and enhancing its historic importance to provide for a distinct memorable identity.