New wholesale market to open today at Tirumazhisai

The wholesale traders who are moving there are not fully satisfied, alleging that the basic facilities at the market was not ready yet. Works including providing power supply were still going on and would take two more days to complete, said P Sukumaran, secretary, Koyambedu Wholesale Merchants’ Association.

“By tonight the market will start receiving vegetable loads. But it would be limited, as Chennai has more number of COVID- 19 positive cases and there is a shortage of workers,” P Sukumaran added.

All the vendors at the market have been tested, he said, adding that only those who tested turned negative would be allowed to sell vegetables from Monday. “The prices of vegetables have increased because of the shortage. It will come down within two days,” he added.

The market at Tirumazhisai will function from 10 pm to 10 am. The loads will be supplied between 10 pm and midnight, and traders have been directed to stop sales by 8 am. The market should be closed at 10 am. Officials added that social distancing norms would be strictly implemented at the new market.

“The officials claimed that all retail vendors who cine to the market will be tested before letting them in,” said R Thiyagarajan, a tomato wholesaler. Pointing out that all vendors were dependent on daily sales, Thiyagarajan urged the government to ensure that their livelihood was not affected due to the lockdown and the conditions imposed as part of it.