The Basic Infrastructure and Amenities Promotion Committee has approved an allocation of Rs.33.63 crore for augmentation and maintenance of the infrastructure, including stormwater drain network, in the Koyambedu market complex.
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority will release the money for the project from its funds collected through the Infrastructure and Amenities Charges. The actual work is expected to take a few months to begin.
The Market Management Committee will carry out the work which includes creation of new stormwater drains over 9 km long, widening of roads and concretisation of a 350-metre road connecting gate 7 and 14, which is being used by heavy vehicles to carry perishables to the market complex.
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According to officials of CMDA, the SWDs have been severely clogged and are not in use. This has led to unhygienic conditions in the market complex.
The market complex was planned in an area of around 295 acres and the wholesale market for perishables has been developed in an area of around 70 acres in the first phase.
It has around 3,154 shops for vegetables, fruits and flowers. The market has two blocks for vegetable shops and one each for fruit and flower market. The restoration work at the market is expected to increase the number of visitors to the market, said an official of the CMDA.
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The market has over one lakh visitors a day.