The Koyambedu market complex will be closed on the last Friday of every month, from August 27, to facilitate full-fledged maintenance.
The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the Market Management Committee with the concurrence of representatives of traders' association. Committee officials said the market would be shut between 10 p.m. on Thursday and 10 p.m. on Friday to carry out maintenance, including garbage removal, fogging to curb mosquito menace, repairing of roads and electrical work.
The decision, however, would not apply to flower market as the produce would have to be sold within a stipulated time.
Moreover, the flower market is comparatively small and hence it is easy to maintain.
Though regular maintenance is scheduled daily, it does not seem enough. Setting aside a full day would help in executing various works without hindrance.
The busy market spread over 60 acres receives over one lakh visitors and 500 lorries daily. Besides about 100 lorries stationed in the market, other vehicles are parked in the area, making it difficult for cleaning operation, the officials said. This also followed a request from Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited, the contractor involved in garbage collection.
V.R. Soundararajan, member of MMC and a wholesale trader, said both wholesale and retail market would be closed on the last Friday of every month. ?We may lose one day's business. But, we agreed to it keeping in mind the need for better maintenance,? he said. The lorry owners have also been informed about the decision. Additional produce would be stocked on the previous day to cater to the demand, he added.
However, a few traders are opposed to closing the market on Friday and instead suggested that Sunday must be declared a holiday when many labourers take leave.
