A total of 16 shops were removed by the Chennai Corporation on Monday to facilitate widening of the road near Thiru Vi Ka Bridge across the Adyar River.
The Highways Department is in the process of completing construction of the Rs.13.06-crore three-lane bridge as part of making the facility wider with seven-lanes.
After the Chennai Corporation removed 10 fruit shops and 6 flower shops situated opposite the Malar Hospital, the land to connect the bridge to that side was cleared. It has been a year since the Highways Department paid Rs. 41 lakh to the civic body to construct alternative shops for the shopkeepers.
These fruit and flower shops had been shifted 13 years ago from near the bus stops in Adyar to the present location.
“Corporation officials asked the shopkeepers to pay rent arrears of a few lakhs of rupeers before it provides alternative shops. We have paid the money but the officials have not told us anything about the alternative location,” said I. Thangam, a shopkeeper.
The Corporation Council will finalise the location for construction of new shops or allot shops to the shopkeepers.
The widening of the bridge is expected to reduce traffic pile up during rush hour.
In the mornings, vehicles from the Adyar side pile up near the Thiru Vi Ka Bridge whereas in the evenings, it is vehicles bound for Adyar that experience such the situation .
