Redevelop Sowcarpet to unlock potential of N Chennai, says CII study

CHENNAI:

In a bid to unlock the growth potential of North Chennai, the Industry has suggested to redevelop the bustling Sowcarpet into a Trade Park.

The area has already been recommended by the Justice Rajeswaran Committee to be redeveloped and a Confederation of study ‘A Case for Development of Wholesale Trade Parks’ released by the Housing Secretary S Krishnan on Thursday highlights the same.

Sowcarpet, which covers an area of around 10sqkm housed over 4 million people and is largely famous for wholesale goods, shops selling designed sarees and dress materials, readymade garments, steel utensils and durables and various other commodities.

The locality has 80 per cent of the 150 buildings which are in dilapidated condition as per Chennai Corporation. It also has less than one per cent of buildings which are built without any violations, as per the survey carried out by Chennai Corporation.

According to the CII study, Sowcarpet is similar to Crawford Street in Mumbai or inner parts of Dariba, Chandini Chowk in Delhi. The area is crowded and houses seem to jut out of a common wall and there is barely separation between them, the study stated.

The study states that if Sowcarpet is redeveloped, the traders will have more space to store inventory. It also states that the entire trading hub of North Chennai comprising of Purusaiwalkam and Choolai could be relocated to an upcoming ‘Market of India’ which is spread over 70 acres near Perambur.

The study states that Market of India Model is based predominantly on the Chinese model of wholesale markets that are directly linked to manufacturing centres and appurtenant logistics systems.

The study states that upon completion the project will generate employment to 1.06 lakh individuals of which direct employment will be to 42,442 people for operation and management of the project.