The Koyambedu wholesale market is set to get better infrastructure in a few months with the Market Management Committee planning to take up several long-pending improvement works, including those pertaining to the stormwater drain network, roads and solid waste management.
Officials of the committee said the roads around the market, in dire need of repair, would be re-laid, while patchwork would be done on other roads, at a cost of Rs.2.73 crore.
Nearly 300 vegetable-laden lorries come to the market daily.
The poor condition of the roads comes in the way of speedy movement of the vehicles, often resulting in a pile-up which disrupts the smooth flow of traffic in the neighbourhood.
Concrete road
The committee proposes to lay concrete road in the truck bay.
Tender would soon be floated for the project worth Rs.1.45 crore.
The work, including re-laying of the roads, would be completed in three months. Of the 12 truck bays, nine have concrete roads but they are in bad shape, an official said.
As a measure to revamp the existing stormwater drain network, 22 points spread over 12 km have been selected to check for blocks and proper functioning. The project would cost Rs.8.70 lakh.
The SWD would also be constructed for a distance of about 500 m in the vegetable market.
In a bid to address the problem of garbage disposal in the market, the Market Management Committee awarded the contract to a new firm, Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited, earlier this month for integrated solid waste management.
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 at the market.
On the complaints about uncleared garbage, even after appointment of a new contractor, the officials said that a month’s time has been given to the firm to carry the waste and dispose of it at the Kodungaiyur dumping yard.
Compost yard
The firm would have to set up compost yard near the market on a 2.7-acre land within three months.
It is also required as per the contract to operate the dysfunctional bio-methanation plant within six months.
The revenue generated through the power generation using organic waste would be shared between the government and the firm, an official said.
