The Nehru Market in Karaikal will be demolished and re- built in course of time, providing a great relief to the traders and businessmen.
The closure of the market, built during the French regime on the Tirunallar Road, has come as a major setback for the traders for the past two years. A cross-section of traders says the closure of the market has brought down the economic activity in the area. Although the market had been shifted temporarily to an adjoining area, it was not very convenient for the traders and the members of the public, they said.
S. Venkataraj, a trader, says the structure had weakened forcing the authorities to close it. Although it was expected that the new market would be built immediately, the delay for two years had hindered the growth of trade in the town. He said the Union Territory of Puducherry should take steps in this regard.
Sources said the work would be executed either through the PWD or the municipality. “Both the PWD and the municipality have adequate expertise for constructing the market. Once the funds were released, the government would issue orders entrusting the construction responsibility to any one of these two departments,” say the source.
E. Vallavan, District Collector, said that the work on the construction of the new market after demolishing the existing structure, would be executed at a cost of Rs.15 crore.
