The Hindu        02.03.2017  

Shopping complex demolished for bus terminus at Vadavalli

Corporation workers removing goods from shops that are part of its
shopping complex at Vadavalli in the city on Wednesday.HANDOUT_E_MAIL
 

Shopkeepers allege that the Corporation had not given them adequate time to vacate

The civic body on Wednesday removed a shopping complex at Vadavalli amidst opposition by occupants.

Officials
from the Town Planning wing demolished the complex that belonged to the
Corporation. They said that the complex with eight shops – four on the
ground and four on the first floors – stood on the pathway of the
proposed bus terminus.

The
Corporation needed a 50 feet width pathway on the southern side –
Marudhamalai Road – to facilitate the entry and exit of buses to the
proposed terminus. The shopping complex ate away nearly 25 feet and so
had to be removed. The officials also said that the Corporation had
already demolished around 10 private shops on the south eastern side of
the proposed terminus and also an old public toilet. The civic body had
proposed construction of the terminus on 2.02 acre at Vadavalli, north
of the existing terminus, with adequate passenger facilities. The
shopkeepers in the complex alleged that the Corporation had not given
them adequate time to vacate the premises. It had not issued notices to
vacate and thereby had not followed the due process of law.

An
occupant said that he had paid the rent in advance – till March. Now
with the Corporation forcing him to vacate, he wanted to know the fate
of the money he had paid. Officials said that the Corporation did serve
the notice 15 days ago but they refused to take it. The civic body had
followed the procedures and there was nothing much for the shopkeepers
to complain about.