In one of the complex issues facing Casablanca, the renowned Derb Ghalef market is set to undergo a meticulous renovation process in the coming years, as Mayor Nabila Rmili has confirmed that relocating the market is no longer an option. Instead, efforts are being directed toward rehabilitating the market while safeguarding the interests of both traders and customers. For many years, the Derb Ghalef market has faced multifaceted challenges, including legal, real estate, and economic disputes, which have resulted in prolonged stagnation due to ongoing court battles, particularly with the owners and heirs of the land on which the market is situated. To date, these individuals have been unable to reclaim their properties and rights.
Mayor Nabila Rmili's council has decided to take bold steps toward resolution, opting to initiate a process for expropriating the land from private owners for public benefit. The goal is to compensate these owners and subsequently allow for the rehabilitation of the market, which is located in the heart of the economic capital and has been marred by chaotic developments that tarnish its image. During her appearance on the program “Le 12/13,” aired on Media 24’s Francophone platforms, Rmili emphasized that a vote had already been conducted and approved for the expropriation of Derb Ghalef land. This means that the next steps will involve compensating the landowners while acknowledging that part of the land belongs to public assets, while another part is private, and a portion is under the jurisdiction of the municipality.
Following the completion of the expropriation process, the city council plans to transition into the technical file preparation phase, a process expected to take approximately two months according to Rmili. This will subsequently lead to the development of the future project. Rmili reassured traders and customers that the option of relocating the famous market is off the table, stating, “This is one of the iconic and significant neighborhoods in Casablanca, and it must be preserved, with efforts focused on its coherence, modernization, and respect for the economic hub it generates.” Regarding the anticipated timeline, the city council president noted that several stages had to be completed, including ensuring that the urban planning scheme aligns with architectural guidelines, which has now been achieved. The next step involved voting within the council to officially transfer the land to the municipality, which has also been accomplished.
She continued, “What remains now is to prepare this technical file, as developments are very recent—we are talking about just a few weeks. A technical file must be created, followed by the initial conceptualization of this project, possibly in collaboration with the urban agency. However, I cannot provide an exact date; I can assure you that this project is on the table, and there is serious work underway to complete it in the coming years.” In terms of the concerns raised by market traders, who have repeatedly expressed their support for the market's rehabilitation on the condition that business activities are not halted during the construction period, Rmili confirmed that this matter is being taken into consideration, citing the example of Bab Marrakech market. “I will give the example of Bab Marrakech market; it was demolished to build a new market that preserves its symbolism, and not all traders were displaced. Instead, a temporary market was prepared for them, and they are currently operating within approximately 150 temporary shops. Once the market construction is completed, they will return.”
As reported by madar21.com.
