Roads near Koyambedu market are expected to be re-laid after this monsoon. Already a portion of the road, which provides a shortcut for mofussil buses plying to various destinations from Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus, has been re-laid and opened to traffic bound for Poonamallee High Road.
Chennai Metro Rail Limited has completed its work. “The other half of the road remains in disrepair and expected to be re-laid soon,” says a CMRL source.
However, a source from Market Management Committee (MMC) said that remaining roads surrounding the market would get a facelift soon as the tender process is underway.
Kavitha Balakrishnan, a social worker, said, “During every spell of rain, traffic moves at a snail’s pace on this road.
Drivers have to negotiate stagnant sewage and water.
It only shows lack of coordination among government departments and official apathy.”
S.T. Ayyappan of Chinmaya Nagar Stage II said that roads have been in neglect for many years except for some patchwork in some parts. He pointed out that officials of MMC had then promised that bad roads around the market would be re-laid. As per the assurance — roads A and B — were re-laid a couple of years ago and it became slushy again once it rained.
C. Annadurai, a resident of Nerkundram Main Road, said that the civic body had recently assured that the market would get a better infrastructure in a few months. While coming from Kaliamman Koil Street, one can find mounds of garbage. This has to be removed forthwith and could be prevented by constant monitoring and violators should be dealt with a firm hand, he suggested.
Unauthorised shops removed
Recently, around 100 shops that were a hindrance to a free flow of vehicles inside the market were evicted. It has been found that nearly 1,000 such shops have been functioning without licence in the market complex. Many of them sold the produce on roads and pavements, often making it difficult for the public to walk. Officials of the MMC said that the market would be monitored to ensure that the illegal shops do not mushroom. The move would also allow better parking provisions on the premises.
Vendors in the market, however, complained that a lot more needed to be done in terms of improving the roads, waste management and general ambience of the market.
