The Times of India 21.08.2012
Corporation plans 3-storey hawkers' complex in congested Saidapet
CHENNAI: A three-storey hawkers' complex of the Corporation of Chennai,
housing fruit, vegetable, fish and flower vendors, is expected to come
up soon in Saidapet. It will have an elevator, toilets and a parking lot
and will accommodate nearly 350 vendors.
Tenders for the complex, which is to come up on Jenis Street on land where several hawkers now sell their wares, are likely to be floated in a couple of months. "We finalised the decision to construct the complex following repeated complaints," said a senior corporation official. The complex is estimated to cost 3 crore.
Federation of Small Traders Associations general secretary B Karunanidhi, however, said, the idea was not practical. "Most buyers would not be willing to climb three floors and vendors would again be forced on to the road." He also said proper maintenance should be ensured. "Most of the time, such complexes are not maintained properly and this keeps buyers away."
Corporation officials said it was to resolve this that an elevator was proposed. "Buyers need not to climb stairs to purchase things from top floors. A parking lot will also be provided," an official said.
Hawkers are excited. They want the corporation to provide at least 40 sq ft of space for each stall. "Most corporation complexes are crowded and congested. This one should be designed to provide enough air circulation," said R Selvam.
Another vendor, Maheswari, said: "The idea is good, but there is no clarity on rehabilitation of vendors who will be evicted from here. I have been selling vegetables here for the last two years," she said
Commuters and buyers are happy. "There is no place to park vehicles in the present market. Also, there is traffic congestion because of the vendors on the road. If the vendors are evicted from these stretches, it will be a relief for motorists," said N Murugeshan, a buyer.
However, the proposal could draw criticism as two such complexes in Ayanavaram and Pondy Bazar remain unused. A building housing 332 shops in Ayanavaram and one housing 644 shops in Pondy Bazaar are now being used by miscreants for anti-social activities. Corporation officials said the complex at Pondy Bazaar was not open as a case filed by some hawkers was pending in the Supreme Court and that the hawkers' committee would finalise the list of allotees for the Ayanavaram complex in a couple of weeks.
Tenders for the complex, which is to come up on Jenis Street on land where several hawkers now sell their wares, are likely to be floated in a couple of months. "We finalised the decision to construct the complex following repeated complaints," said a senior corporation official. The complex is estimated to cost 3 crore.
Federation of Small Traders Associations general secretary B Karunanidhi, however, said, the idea was not practical. "Most buyers would not be willing to climb three floors and vendors would again be forced on to the road." He also said proper maintenance should be ensured. "Most of the time, such complexes are not maintained properly and this keeps buyers away."
Corporation officials said it was to resolve this that an elevator was proposed. "Buyers need not to climb stairs to purchase things from top floors. A parking lot will also be provided," an official said.
Hawkers are excited. They want the corporation to provide at least 40 sq ft of space for each stall. "Most corporation complexes are crowded and congested. This one should be designed to provide enough air circulation," said R Selvam.
Another vendor, Maheswari, said: "The idea is good, but there is no clarity on rehabilitation of vendors who will be evicted from here. I have been selling vegetables here for the last two years," she said
Commuters and buyers are happy. "There is no place to park vehicles in the present market. Also, there is traffic congestion because of the vendors on the road. If the vendors are evicted from these stretches, it will be a relief for motorists," said N Murugeshan, a buyer.
However, the proposal could draw criticism as two such complexes in Ayanavaram and Pondy Bazar remain unused. A building housing 332 shops in Ayanavaram and one housing 644 shops in Pondy Bazaar are now being used by miscreants for anti-social activities. Corporation officials said the complex at Pondy Bazaar was not open as a case filed by some hawkers was pending in the Supreme Court and that the hawkers' committee would finalise the list of allotees for the Ayanavaram complex in a couple of weeks.
