Mount Mary Fair: BMC begins the process of auctioning the shops

On the similar lines of Dahihandi and Ganeshotsav, Mumbaikars are looking forward to the Mount Mary Fair in Bandra and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is also making preparations for the Mount Mary Fair. This fair, which has been a tradition for many years, will be held from September 10 to 17. Like every year, this year also on the occasion of this fair, 20 temporary shops will be auctioned very close to the church. The process for this has been started by the civic body.

The more than 100-year-old Mount Mary Basilica Church in Bandra (W) is a major attraction for Mumbaikars. Every year 'Bandra Jatrautsav' (Mount Mary Fair) is held from the second Sunday to the third Sunday of September. The BMC officials and church representatives jointly plan this fair. Services and facilities are provided for the fair through the civic body, State Government (Local Police Station, Traffic Police etc.), BEST Initiatives etc. 

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There are more than 400 stalls selling candles, flowers, and food items in this fair. Some of them are reserved for local people. So there is an auction for the shops which are very close to the church. The High Court has laid down guidelines in this regard. The process is carried out according to this guideline. For that, the BMC has started the process and has invited applications from interested parties. It has the highest bid for 20 shops on Mount Mary Road. 

On Kane Road there are shops specially reserved for locals. This year's rates are decided by adding 10 percent to the amount bid for shop licenses last year. According to this, for the shops near the church, there is a possibility of bidding at least INR 97,437 rupees per shop in auction this year. Only religious items are sold in these shops. Other items can be sold in the shops on the road away from the church. For that, a license fee of INR 2250 and an equal amount of deposit have to be paid, informed the officials of the BMC. From all these processes, the municipal corporation is likely to get a revenue of INR 30 lakhs.