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.
