A crumbling market complex in One Town, PVK Naidu Market Complex, will be pulled down shortly. The complex has a wholesale vegetable market and kirana shops and has been a popular shopping area for years.
But the structure, built in 1963 in memory of former Chairman P.V.K. Naidu is crumbling. The structure has been weakened due to rains and in the wake of torrential rains over the last month, the GMC has issued orders to all shop keepers to vacate the complex immediately.
On Thursday, Town Planning wing of the GMC sealed few shops. Two huge banners have been erected warning the shop keepers to shift immediately.
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Municipal Commissioner K. Venkateswarlu issued notices to all shop keepers asking them to vacate.
The GMC is making proposals to shift the shops to the Red Tank Complex near the behind NTR Statue Cenre near Bus Station Complex. Though the complex has not yet been completed, the GMC is planning to make some arrangement for the shop keepers.
The GMC will pull down the PVBK Naidu Market Complex shortly and build a new swanky shopping complex.
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A report on the structural stability of the building given by the students of V.R Siddhartha Engineering College confirmed that the structure was weak and needs to be pulled down.
The report was sought by the GMC following a local court order to ascertain the stability of the complex after a petition was filed by some shop owners calling for a restraint order.
Bottleneck
The market houses about 50 shops, while the inner spaces and the road margin in front of the market has been occupied by vegetable and fruit vendors. As a result, it had become a bottleneck for ensuring a smooth flow of traffic towards Hindu College junction.
For years, the GMC has been trying to pull down the building but has met with stiff resistance from the traders.
The other two structures in the pipe line include, the Sundries Market and the old Lalapet Police Station building, which too would be pulled down to make way for new structures.