The Hindu : Front Page : Pavement shops at T. Nagar removed

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Thursday, Jun 25, 2009
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Pavement shops at T. Nagar removed

Staff Reporter

— Photo: M. Karunakaran

CLEAN-UP: An Aavin booth near the bus terminus being removed.

CHENNAI: Around 100 pavement shops and five bunks on several streets at T.Nagar were removed by the Chennai Corporation on Wednesday.

Encroachments on South Usman Road, Rangan Street, Madley Road, Railway Border Road, Mangesh Street, Parameswaran Road and Ramanathan Street were removed by 50 workers of the civic body. Ten lorry loads of materials used for putting the structures were cleared during the three-hour-long operation.

A franchise retail outlet of Aavin located on the pavement outside the T.Nagar bus terminus for nearly 20 years was one of the kiosks that was pulled down. K.Marichamy, who runs the outlet, said salespersons were not given time to remove milk products and freezers.

Karunakaran, a sugar cane juice vendor, running the business at the same location since 1985 said he had paid property tax of Rs.5,957 last month to the Corporation. “I have a stay order against the removal of my shop from the court. I was not given any prior notice,” he claimed.

Tension prevailed in the area for some time when an earthmover was brought to demolish the structure. A worker at the juice kiosk clung onto the earthmover and refused to let go. Policemen present during the operation had to step in to sort out the situation.

An official of Zone 8 said that the drive to remove platform vendors would continue. Spots near the flyover on Usman Road would be targeted, he said.

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