Puthur market to be redeveloped under smart cities mission

Trichy: The upcoming fish market at Kulumani road will be a big relief for residents of Puthur where the existing fish market has been causing immense trouble for them. Considered an eyesore with foul smell emanating round the clock, the Puthur fish market is all set to be redeveloped by the civic body under smart cities mission.

The Puthur fish market spread over 30,000 square feet is located close to the Thennur high road and attracts a bunch of local people every day. However, the load trucks carrying seafood products halt on the residential streets close to Regiment Bazaar and Officers Colony roads owing to the inadequate parking space at the market causing inconvenience to nearby residents. Apart from the foul smell, locals have been living with hygiene issues such as the presence of flies and difficulties in accessing the residential streets. Apart from the haphazard parking, residents alleged that unauthorised fish stalls were established at Puthur fish market in violation of the actual number of stalls allotted.

“Though the relocation of fish market is a permanent solution, the unauthorised fish stalls at the Puthur fish market should be removed immediately. The corporation should insist that the load vans vacate the vicinity soon after unloading the seafood,” K Srinivasan, a resident of Officers Colony, said. Residents also claimed that the smell emanating from the defrost cold containers used for transporting seafood parked on roads had been causing difficulties to the nearby hospitals on Thennur high road.

As Puthur falls figures in Area Based Development (ABD) — the most emphasised urban area of the city under smart cities mission — a proposal to redevelop the Puthur fish market was mooted by the civic body. Trichy corporation subsequently identified a consultant to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) to suggest a suitable option for redeveloping the market. “DPR is being prepared to study the area and identify an appropriate project to benefit a large section of the public under smart cities mission,” Corporation commissioner N Ravichandran said. Based on the DPR which would list feasible projects, the civic body said that adequate fund would be sanctioned to redevelop the Puthur fish market venue.