A total of 171 hawkers identified on Anna Salai will move to a new location identified by the Chennai Corporation on Link Road, near the busy Spencer Plaza junction on Anna Salai.
The Corporation has asked hawkers, who were enumerated few years ago according to a High Court directive, to move to the new location on Link Road before Monday.
The civic body has earmarked 20 sq ft for each of the 171 hawkers opposite the proposed parking lot for 300 cars on Link Road. Mayor M.Subramanian said the civic body would start a drive to ensure that the hawkers were completely removed from the place they previously occupied.
“We have been asked to pay a rent of Rs.100 per month for each of the shops. We have requested for better facilities in the area. The Corporation has assured proper illumination for the new shopping area,” said K. Ravichandran, President of the Madras Pavement Traders Welfare Congress.
Most of the shops in the locality would sell books, cutlery, cell phone spare parts, textile products and fruit juice.
“The new locality would give us respite from problems arising out of traffic congestion on Anna Salai. We would be able to carry out business peacefully in the new area,” said Tangavel, a hawker.
The new shopping area is located near a big parking facility on Link Road, which connects Binny Road with Dams Road. So it would also accommodate the vehicles of the customers of the new shopping area, he added.
The civic body would soon erect signboards near the shopping area.
