COIMBATORE: Making way for the increasing traffic on Ooty main road, the Mettupalayam Municipality demolished 12 shops near the bus stand on Wednesday.
According to sources, four flower shops, two puffed rice shops, a cloth center and a footwear store, were functioning in the municipality-owned land for more than 30 years. The monthly rent was a minimum of `800 and a maximum of Rs 7000.
However, as the vehicular flow to Ooty steadily increased over the years, the municipality decided to remove the shops to facilitate smooth flow of traffic.
The council had passed a resolution to remove 13 shops during a meeting held in March and requested the occupants to vacate.
Subsequently, the traders approached the court against the municipality’s order and obtained a stay order until June 30. The court extended the stay order up to July 8 for one of the shops.
“The demolition process completed successfully on Wednesday with the help of police personnel. The occupants also cooperated with us,” said D Satheesh Kumar, chairman of Mettupalayam Municipality.
After the removal of 12 shops, the road has got an additional space of 20-feet and the local body is discussing with the TNSTC officials to use the space for buses plying to Ooty.