The Hindu : Front Page : Shifting of central vegetable market in Madurai looks imminent

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Tuesday, Jun 16, 2009
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Shifting of central vegetable market in Madurai looks imminent

To the vacant land between integrated bus stand and agricultural marketing complex
Temporary market will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 6 crore opposite to SETC depot

MADURAI: Shifting of central vegetable market from the heart of the city looks imminent with the Collector, N. Mathivanan, and the Corporation Commissioner, S. Sebastine, inspecting the temporary site at Mattuthavani on Monday.

The demand for shifting the market to decongest the city roads has been there for years.

The Corporation, on its part, had chalked out a plan to move the market to the vacant land between the integrated bus stand and the agricultural marketing complex at Mattuthavani at a cost of Rs. 63 crore.

It had planned to construct a multi-level parking lot at the present market site.

The plan could not be implemented as traders initially objected to it.

However, ever since the State Government turned down the proposal to shift the market to a temporary site at a cost of Rs. 3.75 crore, the project has been put on hold.

But, with the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, M.K. Azhagiri, evincing interest in shifting of the market from the present site, the project has gained momentum.

Corporation sources said that the temporary project opposite to the State Express Transport Corporation depot along the Melur Road would be on the lines of Uzhavar Sandhai. It would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 6 crore.

“We need to urgently shift the market so as to decongest the city roads and to create parking space for vehicles coming to the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple,” an official said.

Initially, a surface-level parking facility would be created and as and when the project for multi-level parking was sanctioned, the work would begin, he added.

All the 550 shops in the market would be accommodated in the temporary market. Other retail sellers would be allotted space in the open area.

The project, for which the foundation stone laying ceremony is likely to be held shortly, will come up by October.

The Collector also discussed the arrangement to be made for the foundation stone laying ceremony with officials.

The Sholavandan MLA, P. Moorthy, and Corporation Chief Engineer, K. Sakthivel, were among those present.

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