Madurai
Paving way for development of the Periyar Bus stand complex under the Smart City initiative, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the shopkeepers to vacate by December 31.
A Division Bench of Justices K. K. Sasidharan and P. D. Audikesavalu directed the shopkeepers to vacate the premises and give an undertaking. The court also directed Madurai Corporation to produce the list of tenants currently operating their shops from the Periyar bus stand.
Regarding time frame for completion of the project, the Corporation submitted that the outer limit to complete the complex would be 18 months. The court, taking cognisance of the submission, directed the Corporation to consider allotment of shops to the current tenants on completion of the project.
The court was hearing a batch of writ petitions filed by shopkeepers who sought a direction to restrain the district authorities from evicting them from the bus stand. They sought an alternative site to put up shops till the complex was developed, stating that their livelihood would take a hit if they were evicted.