No lesson learned: Madhavaram mkt crowded

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  25.05.2020

The temporary fruit market at Madhavaram Mofussil Bus Terminus is getting congested — with traders encroaching open spaces and visitors refusing to follow social distancing — it mirrors Koyambedu. Ironically, the temporary market was set up after the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex (KWMC) led to a Covid-19 cluster three weeks ago.

The temporary market commenced operations from May 1and has 230 shops of varying sizes functioning between 10am and 6pm. More than 200 vehicles, each ferrying a minimum of five tonnes of fruits, enter the market everyday. This apart, about 650 two-wheelers and minitrucks are brought in by customers from across the city and suburbs.

A field check by TOI showed nothing but chaos in the Madhavaram market. Both customers and traders walked around sans physical distancing, and many didn’t use face masks. Traders have encroached the space left open for free movement of the public, with empty fruit boxes piling up. Vehicles entering the market with produce were parked haphazardly in the space left.

Some visitors TOI spoke to stressed on the need for immediate measures to prevent a repeat of the Koyambedu conundrum. Shyamsundar, of Redhills, said the temporary market is overcrowded because it attracts individual consumers, who make small purchases for personal consumption. “It is the need of the hour to strictly enforce physical distancing norms,” he said.

The temporary market is maintained by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). When contacted, CMDA member secretary D Karthikeyan said it was a challenge in any market. “We are levying fines on those who don’t wear masks and on shop keepers if they violate social distancing norm. Our field staff are doing their best and we have sought additional police force (for crowd management),” he told TOI.

Meanwhile, Greater Chennai Corporation sources said they are considering to move the fruit market to the city’s outskirts as the Madhavaram market, supposed to be for wholesale, has been reduced to a retail facility. “The temporary market should be set up near the Outer Ring Road since it would confine visitors to just retail traders, that will help in better implementation of social distancing norms,” a civic body official said.

EFFORTS GO FUTILE: The temporary market in Madhavaram bus terminus was set up after crowding at Koyambedu wholesale market led to a cluster