The move to have the wholesale food grain market at Kothwal Chavadi shifted to Koyambedu is taking more time as traders are apprehensive about their business prospects at the new location.
Even though some food grain traders in George Town have received their allotment orders, they are unhappy about the fact that the Corporation is unable to accommodate all of them.
Traders in George Town including Kothwal Chavadi say the allotment of shops built under Phase – I of the Rs 69.17 crore project is marked by corruption charges.
Some of the affected traders have even filed a petition before the Madras High Court to cancel the allotments and have called for fresh tenders.
“The allotment of shops, which are of different sizes, at the new grain complex in Koyambedu was not fair. Further, there is no clear picture on the timeline for the re-location of the rest of the traders to the new complex in the future,” said K. Sampath, a trader from George Town.
Three years ago, the CMDA gave its nod for the construction of the new market. The complex, consisting of 364 shops measuring 280 sq. ft. each, 92 shops measuring 740 sq. ft. each and 36 shops measuring 1,200 sq. ft., was built last year. There are over 2,000 traders, who deal with food grains and spices in Kothwal Chavadi, and the CMDA allotted shops for 479 traders in the first phase of the multi-crore project. However, the problem pertains to the lack of space for the rest of the traders from George Town to be re-located to Koyambedu.
Initially, the CMDA allotted a 20-acre plot near the Chennai Metro Rail station for the construction of the grains market. As a portion of the earmarked land was taken for Metro Rail work, an alternative site between B-Road and E-Road in Koyambedu was allotted for the project.
“Unless the officials (CMDA) assure us that all the shops from George Town will be shifted to Koyambedu in phases with a clear plan, the new grains complex at Koyambedu will remain shut,” says S. Sadasivam, a trader from George Town.
