82 new shops planned at Koyambedu market

CHENNAI: A total of 82 new shops will be built on five acres of land at the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex at a cost of Rs 5.61 crore, according to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) sources. This include 27 shops that have to be relocated during acquisition of market land for the Chennai Metro Rail project.Sources told Express on Friday that a five-acre vacant plot in the market has been identified for this purpose and tenders have been called for constructing the shops. “Besides constructing the shops and godown, the proposal also includes civil, water supply and sanitary and electrical works,” the sources said.The site will also house 27 shops that will be relocated to make way for the Chennai Metro Rail depot.“The land was lying vacant following a court case and it has now been allocated for this purpose,” said a source with the Koyambedu Market Management Committee.But there have been murmurs among a section of traders who feel the government move to build additional shops will congest the market. “Already 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 will be no parking space at all,” said a trader on condition of anonymity.“It would have been better if the land was allocated for the project-hit shops along with space for a parking lot,” said another trader, adding that the Rs 7-crore truck terminal built to park the trucks has been lying vacant for the last four months.A section of traders also slammed the CMDA for 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. “Rains have started and now they are digging up the roads in and around the market. This will cause not only loss to the exchequer, but also problems for us,” they said.