The Times of India 11.12.2010
Koyambedu to have separate market for foodgrains
CHENNAI: The city will soon have a separate market for foodgrains at Koyambedu. The state government has proposed to build the market with about 500 shops, opposite the Koyambedu vegetable market.
According to official sources, the market will be built on a seven to eight acres of land belonging to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, adjacent to the Koyambedu fire service station.
"There is about 30 acres of vacant land but most of it has been allotted to Metro Rail. We have planned to build the foodgrain market on the remaining land. About 500 foodgrain traders have already applied for allotment of shops in the proposed market,'' sources told The Times of India.
Officials said they were preparing an estimate for the construction of the new market and the project would kick off once the government issued administrative sanction.
A couple of years ago, the government had planned to construct a textile market there, but the proposal failed to draw response from the textile traders. "We had placed advertisement three times before calling for applications from textile merchants, but they did not respond as most of them have their own shops on Godown Street in Broadway,'' the sources said.
At present, there are flower, fruits and vegetables markets in Koyambedu -- inaugurated in 1996 and consisting of 1,000 wholesale shops and 2,000 retail shops. Many regular customers said the authorities should also ensure proper maintenance of the existing markets in Koyambedu.
"We come here only because the prices of vegetables, fruits and flowers are cheaper compared to other areas. But many times we chose not to come to Koyambedu mainly because of the vehicle congestion on roads leading to the markets, poor road conditions, powercuts in the shops and improper cleaning of garbage inside the market premises,'' said Nandagopal, a regular buyer in the flower market.
Earlier, a number of mofussil buses used to reach the Koyambedu bus terminus through the market road from Poonamallee High Road. Since the roads have now turned worse, the buses now come to the terminus through Inner Ring Road-Poonamallee High Road intersection and Kaliamman Koil Road.
"The roads here got damaged in the recent rains. Water is stagnating inside the premises of all the three markets, posing a health hazard for the vendors and also the buyers,'' said Kannan, a van driver who transports vegetables to the market.
