Koyambedu flower market traders oppose CMDA’s proposed expansion

S Mookaiya, president, Chennai Koyambedu Wholesale Flower Vendors Association said that of the 470 shops in the market, around 210 shops are closed without business.

“When Deputy Chief Minister announced the project in the State Assembly, we wrote to CMDA and market management committee requesting to drop the project. However, we are yet to receive communication from them,” Mookaiya said. He added that business of present flower vendors would be affected if the CMDA builds more shops in the premises. “So, CMDA should drop the proposal,” he urged.

The planning authority had recently invited consultants to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the expansion of the market. The plan is to expand the market on the eastern side.

Presently, the flower market functions on around 27,052 sqft inside the Koyambedu Wholesale Market that spreads over 11.25 lakh sqft of land.

CMDA would also identify organised flower trade functioning in other parts of the city and examine the possibility of shifting them to the expanded flower market, sources said. “Based on the number of new wholesale and retail shops, CMDA will set up cold storage, weigh bridge, parking facilities amongst others,” the official said.