Mumbai Fisherfolk Oppose Relocation Of CSM Fish Market, Announce Morcha To BMC HQ On July 22

The BMC’s plan to relocate the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (CSM) Fish Market to the basement of the redeveloped Crawford Market has met with strong opposition from Mumbai’s fishing community. The All Maharashtra Fisherfolk Action Committee (AMFAC) has announced a morcha (protest march) to the BMC headquarters on July 22, demanding that the original location of the fish market be retained and formally reserved for the Koli community once again.

Established in 1971, this fish market has been a key economic hub for the fishing industry, generating an annual turnover of Rs. 2,000 crore. Fisherfolk from across the Konkan coast including Vasai, Versova, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Malvan sell their catch here. After it was declared dilapidated the BMC vacated the building and has since leased the plot to a private developer for Rs. 369 crore for 30 years, with an option to renew for another 30 years. This decision has drawn strong opposition from the fishing community, who allege it threatens their traditional livelihood.

Sanjay Koli, General Secretary of the (AMFAC), said, “The BMC had earlier assured the Koli community that an international-standard fish market would be developed at Crawford Market. However, with only 40% of the construction completed, traders have been forced to operate temporarily from footpaths.” Damodar Tandel, President of (AMFAC), has written to Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, demanding that the Rs. 400-crore plot be allotted to the Koli community. The fisherfolk have warned that their protest will continue until their demand is fulfilled.

A senior civic official stated that after the building was declared dangerous, fish vendors, the Koli community, and political leaders repeatedly sought rehabilitation in the same area to protect their livelihoods. As part of the 2014–2016 Crawford Market redevelopment, the BMC had reserved space for displaced vendors. "After vacating the dilapidated structure, the process to lease the vacant plot via public tender began six months ago. The tender has since been finalised, and no changes can be made at this stage," the official confirmed.

The CSM Market, a nearly 50-year-old structure with a basement, ground floor, and four upper levels, was declared highly dangerous following a 2012 structural audit. In response to a PIL, the Bombay High Court had directed authorities to ensure public safety, prompting the BMC to evacuate the building in July 2021 and relocate 348 licensed fish vendors to alternate municipal markets.

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