At last, process begins for allocation of shops at Kallikudi market complex

Traders to be asked to register for allotment at Kallikudi market complex
The district administration has decided to begin the process of registration for allocation of shops to wholesale and retail traders at the Central Market for Vegetables and Flowers at Kallikudi. The market is yet to be brought to use after being inaugurated by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami a few months ago.

A senior official told The Hindu on Tuesday that the administration had devised a plan of action to utilise the market constructed at a cost of Rs. 64 crore. The administration had received a number of representations to begin trading operations as quickly as possible. The authorities had planned to shift the wholesale sections of Gandhi Market to the new Kallikudi complex on Tiruchi-Madurai highway.

A formal announcement would be made within two to three days, asking interested traders to register for allotment of shops.

The time frame for registration and shifting of wholesale trading from Gandhi Market to Kallikudi market complex would also be announced.

Stating that the market could no longer be kept idle as the construction was completed about a year ago, the official said shifting of vegetable, fruits and flower markets to Kallikudi was inevitable. “All-out efforts would be made to ensure that the traders shift their operation to the new complex,” the official said.

In the first phase, lorries transporting vegetables, fruits and flowers from different parts of the State, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh would be directed to offload at Kallikudi instead of Gandhi Market. Traders and other stakeholders would be taken into confidence before implementation of the plan.

Citing factors such as distance and size of the shops at the new market, Gandhi Market traders had been expressing apprehension that their business would be hit hard if they were forced to shift to Kallikudi Market. Customers would find it difficult to reach Kallikudi, which was about 15 km from the city.

They had opposing the move to shift out by holding a series of agitations. They were also contemplating constructing a new market by themselves in the vicinity of the city.

Taking the traders viewpoint, the district administration completed modification of the shops to make them bigger. By demolishing the walls in between, two shops were made into one on the ground floor.

The standpoint of the district administration was that the distance would cease to matter in course of time as the city expanded. The new market had about 1,000 shops. It would be easy to reach as the market constructed along the Tiruchi-Madurai highway, with assistance under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund of NABARD, has good transport connectivity.

Late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had sanctioned the project when she represented the Srirangam constituency. The wholesale market on an expanse of 9.79 acres has facilities for cold storage, grading, sorting, and parking.


“All-out efforts will be made to ensure that the traders shift their operation to the new complex

Senior Official

District Administration

Source