Work on modernisation of textile hub at E.K.M. Abdul Gani Textile Market complex (Gani market) at Panneerselvam Park at ₹ 51.59 crore began here on Thursday and is expected to be completed in 18 months.
The wholesale and textile market is located in the heart of the city and is visited by merchants from across the State and from other States regularly. It houses 1,110 shops, including weekly shops and daily shops, with brisk business reported on Monday and Tuesday nights.
However, absence of parking and toilet facilities and basic amenities in the market continued to be a major concern for customers and merchants.
Under the Smart City Mission, the civic body proposed to modernise the market at 12,4277.50 sq.m. with all the amenities, including centralised air conditioning system and adequate space for shops and parking.
The total build up area would be 24,673 sq.m., including two basement floors (4,561 sq. each), ground floor (4,460 sq m), and the first, second and third floors each coming up at 3,697 sq.m. Parking at basement could hold 73 cars and 132 two-wheelers while the parking space at basement II could hold 78 cars and 131 two-wheelers. Apart from this, the open parking space could hold 160 cars and 50 two-wheelers.
A total of 292 shops would come up in the hub with 79 shops on ground floor, 81 shops each on the first and second floors and 51 shops on the third floor. Besides, a dining area would come up at 1,417 sq.m. with a kitchen at 80 sq.m. Other amenities include four passenger lifts, one goods lift for each floor, three fire stairs, two open well staircase and two escalators.
Corporation Commissioner M. Elangovan told The Hindu that demolition of old buildings in the construction area was completed on Thursday and traders, whose shops were removed, were allotted shops within the premises. Around 220 shops were removed and the traders were allotted alternative space.
