More than a dozen courts functioning from the Egmore Court complex will soon shift to the Lily Pond shopping complex (Moore Market) near Ripon Buildings.
Restoration work to be taken up in the Court complex has necessitated the shifting of the courts.
The Chennai Corporation is currently carrying out alterations to the Lily Pond complex after demolishing shops on the second and third floors, but is unlikely to remove shops that obstruct the entry of fire tenders.
“We have completed civil works in 12 court halls and the main chamber. Painting and flooring work will be completed soon. Fourteen courts will start functioning on the Moore Market premises from December. Shops around the complex will not be shifted,” said a Corporation official.
Following security concerns raised by the police, officials are likely to commission facilities for improving security in the complex. The civic body is, however, yet to create parking space for the courts.
Moore Market was destroyed in a fire in 1985. The Corporation reconstructed 850 shops on the spot at a cost of Rs. 6 crore in 1998. Around 400 shops selling books, pets and antiques will be made operational after the courts start functioning in the complex.
Representatives of merchants associations are hopeful that with the creation of space for courts on the upper floors, there will be improvement in water supply, quality of toilets and lighting in the corridors.
