Forced to travel far, Velachery residents seek market nearby

Due to this, the residents here say they are forced to travel to the markets at Tiruvanmiyur, Saidapet and Alandur. Earlier, there was space allotted for the market on Gandhi Road. But it was removed about 20 years ago due to some issues. Having a market established in their neighbourhood has been a long-pending demand for the residents of wards 178, 179 and 180.

In the absence of a proper market in the locality, there are scores of small stalls that have cropped up in residential neighbourhoods like Vijaya Nagar and Dhandeeswaram Nagar. However, they come with their own issues. According to the residents, the hawkers and vendors occupy the busy stretches in the neighbourhood, which makes it difficult for the people to make purchases during peak traffic hours.

“The population of Zone 13 is 4,58,852. We are residing in one of the largest constituencies in the city. However, despite being a big residential area, the residents here do not have a market. The area has an excess of vendors, occupying all main stretches of the neighbourhood, which is making it difficult for motorists and pedestrians,” said M Balakrishnan, general secretary, Tansi Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association.

Recently, the residents met the former MLA and MP of the locality to get their support to set up a market. They reportedly agreed to give back the demand. “We suggested that the Dhandeeswaram temple land on Third Main Road can be used as a market. The plot is not being used for anything now. Though we have been suggesting for a while, they have not taken any steps to set up the market,” said Ravichandran P, a resident of Baby Nagar.

Speaking to DT Next, Ramesh Selvan, Velachery zonal officer said, “We have not received any such demand from the public. We will see if there is an appropriate space with Corporation or Revenue department to set up the market.”