Providing a glimmer of hope to fish merchants based at Champakkara Market, the MD of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) Elias George and District Secretary of CPI(M) P. Rajeev, MP conducted a joint visit of the premises on Tuesday.
The merchants and vendors had aired their concern at the market space dwindling considerably when Kochi Metro’s piling works commence in the premises and the area is barricaded. Mr Rajeev said that they also want proper access for lorries carrying fish to reach the market located in Vyttila-Pettah Road.
Lorries carrying fish from different harbours, including from other States arrive here daily and the business volume is in the range of Rs 40 to Rs 50 lakh per day. A good share of the market can be relocated if two more plots are acquired and vendors relocated there, he said.
The metro agency has assured that the proposal will be taken up with State government. On rebuilding Champakkara Bridge as a four-lane one, he said that this can be done on the lines of North overbridge that was rebuilt about two years ago.
KMRL officials said that a meeting will be held involving Kochi Corporation, Revenue Department, people’s representatives and fish merchants in a week, prior to finalising plans.
“As for the bridge, we have asked DMRC to prepare a plan to widen it into four lane, for which funds worth approximately Rs 30 crore have to be earmarked under metro’s preparatory works.”
