Chennai: Mayor
Saidai Duraisamy who visited vegetable and fruit vendors at Eldams
Roadon Saturday, promised them a number of welfare measures.

Almost
30 vegetable vendors do business on this cramped lane of Teyn­ampet. A
complex was built for them some years ago on Eldams Road itself, but it
lies unutilised since its inception. 

The complex at present
resembles an old structure and is used as a storehouse-cum-dumping
ground. The mayor told them that it would be attended to and that they
would be able to move into it soon.

Locals are skeptical, saying
that this was the usual refrain uttered by the authorities. Last time
too, the vendors had moved into the place, but had to return to the
streets due to the sheer lack of basic amenities and proper upkeep of
the premises.

Muthu Kumar, a vegetable vendor,  at the market,
says, “The mayor said that he would take care of our needs. But this is
not the first time he has said so. We shifted into the complex in the
past too, but soon had to leave as it was not properly maintained. We
need electricity as we sell vegetables in the evening as well, but it
was absent. Presently, the complex also lies dirty. The mayor said it
would be cleaned and then we could move in.”

He pointed out that 
many vegetable sellers from this Teynampet complex had, over the years,
left for better places in the city from which to sell their wares.

Asthar
A, a shopkeeper on the same street, says, “The vendors have to give
rent to the temple to occupy space on the street, which could be done
away with if the complex starts functioning properly.”

The mayor also visited the fish market and promised similar measures there as well.