The thud of footfalls at the T. Nagar Hawker’s Complex is growing louder. One would expect the traders to be excited about this situation and also look forward to the festive season, when commerce is bound to peak. But traders are not letting the positive developments stop them from talking about problems at the complex, the most difficult of them being dust and garagbe.
“The complex is littered with garbage. The Chennai Corporation should depute civic workers to clean the complex on a daily basis. The Pondy Bazaar flower vendors, who are expected to conduct their business on the ground floor, refuse to move in citing lack of cleanliness and hygiene. They do their business in the parking slot, which is at the front portion of the complex. As a result, visitors to the complex park their vehicles on the road,” says one of the traders.
The flower vendors who operate from the ground floor say they are disappointed over the allocation of shops, and are unable to ply their trade in the unkempt atmosphere.
“The shops, which have a storage space of 5x5 sq.ft., can accommodate only one person at a time. Six people are needed to make garlands and bouquets, and to deliver them to the customers on time,” says a trader.
“The lift at the complex does not work properly and both shoppers and traders are forced to use the staircase. There are frequent power cuts. A separate electricity meter should be installed in each shop. We are ready to pay the money for the installation of meters,” traders added.
They said they had given a letter to the Commissioner of the Chennai Corporation stating the problems faced by the traders and vendors in detail. He had assured them he would look into the matter. It would be good if action was taken at the earliest, the traders pointed out.
