The State government is building an international flower market on five acres of land in Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra (GKVK) in north Bengaluru and is considering shifting the flower traders from K.R. Market here. However, the project has already raised questions from environmentalists as 942 trees will be felled for the project, and flower traders of K.R. Market, who argue relocation from the heart of the city will hit their business.
G.M. Divakar, president, K.R. Market Flowers Merchants’ Association, said they have not been consulted on any relocation plan and said pushing them to G.K.V.K. from the centrally located K.R. Market in the city will hit their business badly. “GKVK is one corner of the city, very near to another flower market coming up in Chickballapur APMC yard, and has no connectivity from all areas. Footfall will drop drastically,” he said. Presently, 136 shops are operating in K.R. Market.
