Pallavaram weekly market to shrink by one-third due to highways work
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
Chennai:24.11.2018
The 180-year-old Pallavaram weekly market, where about 500 vendors of virtually everything from farm produce and pets and second hand electronic goods congregate on Fridays, will soon shrink to two-thirds its size.
The Cantonment Board, on whose land the market has been functioning since 2011 when it shifted from Bazaar Road, earns up to ₹2.8 lakh every market day. Now, the state highways department, which is planning a grade separator on GST Road, wanted the board to shift the market for construction of the traffic-easing facility.
Citing revenue loss, the board refused to vacate the market located along the Old Trunk Road near the newly opened PVR Cinema complex, but agreed to cut down its sizee by 30%.
“We agreed to bring down the market area from 870sqm to 620sqm, so that buses and other heavy vehicles using the stretch can move freely,” said a board official.
By reducing the market space by 30%, more than 150 vendors will not be able to setup their stalls here. “But we have to do this for the greater good of the public,” he said. The board had finalised hawkers’ tenders for the next 104 weeks only recently. For those violating tender norms, the board has recommended a fine of ₹25,000 and cancellation of licence in case of repeat offenders.
J Balamurugan, who sells coconut at the market, said they were already facing losses because of cyclone Gaja and this move would make things worse.
A highway department official said the grade separator has become a necessity. “To remove traffic congestion at IG Road junction and Alstom signal junction, the market has to go,” he said.
“I buy pare parts here at much cheaper price than the regular shops,” said R Kannan, a buyer at the market. For regular visitors at the market, it is part of their Friday routine.
“Shifting of the market from the other side of the road itself was a shock,” said S Sriram, who has been buying pigeons and pets from the market. “I can’t imagine it being removed.
FOR PUBLIC GOOD: The state highways department which is planning a grade separator on GST Road, wanted the Cantonment Board to shift the market for construction of the traffic-easing facility
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
Chennai:24.11.2018
The 180-year-old Pallavaram weekly market, where about 500 vendors of virtually everything from farm produce and pets and second hand electronic goods congregate on Fridays, will soon shrink to two-thirds its size.
The Cantonment Board, on whose land the market has been functioning since 2011 when it shifted from Bazaar Road, earns up to ₹2.8 lakh every market day. Now, the state highways department, which is planning a grade separator on GST Road, wanted the board to shift the market for construction of the traffic-easing facility.
Citing revenue loss, the board refused to vacate the market located along the Old Trunk Road near the newly opened PVR Cinema complex, but agreed to cut down its sizee by 30%.
“We agreed to bring down the market area from 870sqm to 620sqm, so that buses and other heavy vehicles using the stretch can move freely,” said a board official.
By reducing the market space by 30%, more than 150 vendors will not be able to setup their stalls here. “But we have to do this for the greater good of the public,” he said. The board had finalised hawkers’ tenders for the next 104 weeks only recently. For those violating tender norms, the board has recommended a fine of ₹25,000 and cancellation of licence in case of repeat offenders.
J Balamurugan, who sells coconut at the market, said they were already facing losses because of cyclone Gaja and this move would make things worse.
A highway department official said the grade separator has become a necessity. “To remove traffic congestion at IG Road junction and Alstom signal junction, the market has to go,” he said.
“I buy pare parts here at much cheaper price than the regular shops,” said R Kannan, a buyer at the market. For regular visitors at the market, it is part of their Friday routine.
“Shifting of the market from the other side of the road itself was a shock,” said S Sriram, who has been buying pigeons and pets from the market. “I can’t imagine it being removed.
FOR PUBLIC GOOD: The state highways department which is planning a grade separator on GST Road, wanted the Cantonment Board to shift the market for construction of the traffic-easing facility
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