CHENNAI:It is Asia’s largest perishable goods wholesale market, but for the hundreds who come to Koyambedu to buy fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers, parking their vehicles continues to be a struggle. Finally waking up to this, the Market Management Committee is set to take up a proposal to earmark a parking lot within the market premises.
According to a source in the committee, the lot would be 12 feet wide and about 700 metres long, with a capacity to accommodate over 500 four wheelers and two-wheelers that come to the market. The space would be allotted in the gap between storm water drain and compound wall.
“The committee is likely to meet next week where this proposal will be considered. Once it receives the approval from the committee members, tender will be floated,” the source added.
Earmarking specific space for parking is expected to ease the congestion in the market caused by vehicles that are parked haphazardly.
Meanwhile, adding to the security facilities at the market, the authorities have decided to install 28 more surveillance cameras. These will be installed near gates 1 and 2 (flower market), 3 and 8 (fruit market) and 4, 5 and 17 in the vegetable market.
The official said that pre-qualification bids have been finalised and price bids have been opened. This will also be placed before the MMC meeting.
However, the plan to have a new road after the closure of market’s ‘F’ and ‘G’ road has been stuck due to the new land acquisition act.
An MMC source said that land acquisition for the new 80 feet wide road connecting Poonamallee High Road (NH 4) and Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex ‘A’ Road has been hit due to the new act. “We have acquired 70 per cent land required for the road. But with new land acquisition act, the process to acquire the rest of the land has slowed down,” the source said.
He said the plan was to use the existing B road as either entry or exit point while the other road could be put to use for either way. “This would be a two-lane road and it would ease congestion along the stretch,” he said.
Another proposal to have a compost yard in the read side of flower market is waiting for the approval of Pollution Control Board.
“Ramky has already submitted a report. This would take of 100 to 110 tonnes of waste which is being transferred from Koyambedu market to Perungudi. Since this lies close to residential area the proposal requires the assent of pollution control board,” the official added.
TOP OFFICIALS INSPECT MARKET, ILLEGAL SHOPS EVICTED
Meanwhile, Housing Secretary Dharmendra Pratap Yadav and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority CEO Kiran Gurrala inspected the vegetable market even as officials carried out raids to evict shops set up without permission.
“We have evicted 450 illegal shops and seized vegetables and other items worth over Rs 60,000. These would be handed over to orphanages,” the official stated.