Notwithstanding opposition from sections of traders and civic activists, Tiruchirapalli Corporation is going ahead with its plans to shift some of the wholesale sections of Gandhi Market to G.Corner grounds near Golden Rock in the city.
On Saturday, the civic body began work on clearing the site for constructing sheds and shops for accommodating the wholesale traders of the ‘vengaya mandi’ ‘vazhakkai mandi’ ‘vellamandi’, and ‘pazha mandi,’ all of whom are currently function around Gandhi Market.
The move gives shape to a long-pending proposal to shift the wholesale sections to the outskirts.
The corporation has recently decided to renovate Gandhi Market, established around 70 years ago, in a phased manner.
Last month, the Corporation Council had approved an official resolution proposing the shifting of the wholesale traders to G.Corner grounds where the civic body has about five acres of land.
The council’s nod came with a rider as it asked officials to implement the decision in consultation with the traders concerned.
A senior civic official said they were already in touch with the traders and the talks would go on to persuade them to agree to the move.
While wholesale onion traders are willing to move out, banana traders are opposed to the move saying that they would shift only if the entire market was moved out.
The ‘vengaiya mandi’ has about 75 traders and the ‘vazhakkai mandi’ has about 60 wholesale and retail shops. Civic officials are keen on shifting traders of the ‘vazhakkai mandi’, which they say is creating traffic congestion near Gandhi Market.
Some traders have also expressed doubts over the adequacy of space at G.Corner, while a few civic activists have decried the move and found fault with the site. But civic officials feel that the place is ideally suited for the traders as it is situated abutting the Tiruchi-Chennai highway.
The corporation has decided to pave the ground with ‘cut stones’ and construct shops at the site, Commissioner V.P.Thandapani told The Hindu after inspecting the site clearance work on Saturday.
“We will construct as many shops as required,” said Mr.Thandapani without committing the number of shops to be built.
He indicated that the infrastructure would be ready to accommodate the traders within the next couple of months.
