Koyambedu market to have 82 more shops

CMRL project hit 27 shops to be relocated in new five-acre site

Chennai:

Eighty-two new shops, including 27 shops that will be hit by Chennai Metro Rail acquisition of market land, will be built in five acres of land in Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex at a cost of Rs 5.61 crore, according to CMDA sources. 

Sources told Express on Friday that a five-acre vacant land in the market has been identified for this purpose and tenders have been called for building the shops. “Besides constructing the shops and godown, the proposal also includes civil, water supply and sanitary and electrical works,” the sources said

Interestingly, the site will also house 27 shops that will be relocated to make way for the depot of Chennai Metro Rail.

The land was lying vacant following a court case and it has now been allocated for this purpose,” said a MMC source.

But there have been murmurs among a section of traders who feel this move by the government to build additional shops will congest the market.

“There is no parking place for two-wheelers or other vehicles in the market. We are using the site earmarked for wholesale grain market. Once the work starts there then there will be no parking space left,” said a trader on condition of anonymity.

“It would have been better if the land was allocated for the project-hit shops and a parking lot,” said another trader, adding that the Rs 7 crore truck terminal built to park the trucks is now lying vacant for the last four months.

A section of traders also slammed the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority of building a truck bay when the monsoon has started. The work is part of the Rs 33 crore infrastructure project to spruce up the market. “On one hand the rains have started and on the other hand they are digging up the roads in and around the market. This will cause not only loss to the exchequer but also problems to us,” they said.

Meanwhile, the truck bay lies in a puddle of water after recent rains. Even the market stinks. Despite assurances given by CMDA and market authorities garbage still rots in the open. But officials alone can’t be blamed as the traders do have a share of responsibility in keeping their surroundings clean.