CHENNAI: More than 2,000 semi wholesalers and retail traders selling flower, fruits and vegetables at Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex have decided to shut shop from April 30.
The CMDA which maintains the facility has imposed a blanket ban on functioning of all retail shops due to violation of social distancing norms.
A press release from CMDA on Tuesday said that fruit and vegetable retail traders at Koyambedu have been provided alternate locations in the city. “The retail traders selling flower and fruits will operate from the mofussil bus terminus at Madhavaram from Thursday until further orders,” the release said, adding the entry of retail traders would be restricted till 7.30am and specified the timing for entry of vegetable and grocery trucks.
According to sources who participated in a meeting convened by a team of senior officials at Koyambedu on Tuesday, a list of 254 locations was offered to retail traders. However, the traders were not convinced.
S S Muthukumar, president of Koyambedu Semi-Wholesale Traders Association, said, “We have sought space at CMBT or Chennai Contract Carriage Bus Terminus located at Koyambedu. It would be impractical for 1,700 semi wholesale traders to shift out of Koyambedu due to nonavailability of vehicles and loadmen in rest of Chennai,” he said.
Meanwhile, S Srinivasan, president of Chennai Fruits Commission Agents Association said, “We cannot sustain our business without retailers. Henceforth, we have decided to close our shops from May 2.”The flower wholesale market, which is already shut, is also unlikely to move to Madhavaram.
The CMDA which maintains the facility has imposed a blanket ban on functioning of all retail shops due to violation of social distancing norms.
A press release from CMDA on Tuesday said that fruit and vegetable retail traders at Koyambedu have been provided alternate locations in the city. “The retail traders selling flower and fruits will operate from the mofussil bus terminus at Madhavaram from Thursday until further orders,” the release said, adding the entry of retail traders would be restricted till 7.30am and specified the timing for entry of vegetable and grocery trucks.
According to sources who participated in a meeting convened by a team of senior officials at Koyambedu on Tuesday, a list of 254 locations was offered to retail traders. However, the traders were not convinced.
S S Muthukumar, president of Koyambedu Semi-Wholesale Traders Association, said, “We have sought space at CMBT or Chennai Contract Carriage Bus Terminus located at Koyambedu. It would be impractical for 1,700 semi wholesale traders to shift out of Koyambedu due to nonavailability of vehicles and loadmen in rest of Chennai,” he said.
Meanwhile, S Srinivasan, president of Chennai Fruits Commission Agents Association said, “We cannot sustain our business without retailers. Henceforth, we have decided to close our shops from May 2.”The flower wholesale market, which is already shut, is also unlikely to move to Madhavaram.
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