Flower mkt to be shifted to school ground

Coimbatore: The city corporation is planning to shift the flower market on the Mettupalayam Road to the Corporation Boy’s School ground in RS Puram to enforce social distancing measures.
The market, which accommodates as many as 180 traders, was closed when the lockdown was imposed in the city to control the spread of Covid-19. Even though the State government relaxed some of the restrictions, it was not allowed to open to ensure that it does not become a hotspot, said a corporation official.
The civic body had earlier planned to shift the market to the ground of the Devanga High School, but later dropped the plan.
The corporation, which was planning to establish a hockey stadium at the Corporation Boy’s School ground under the smart cities mission, dropped the project last year.
The traders will have to set up temporary shelters on the ground on their own, the official said.
But the traders are not excited about the idea. Trustee of the Kovai District Flower Merchant Association K K Ayyappan said there are a lot of disadvantages in shifting the market. “There is no direct public transportation to the school. Flowers will wither as they might get exposed to the sun. At a time when our business is dull, this might further affect us.”