Chennai: Unauthorised vendors evicted

Chennai: In a move to ensure fair space for business among vendors and a customer friendly atmosphere at Koyambedu market, members of Market Management Committee (MMC) along with the police force evacuated over 600 unauthorised vendors and cleaned up the market space on Saturday.

The evacuation process started at 5 am when 623 shops, both mobile as well as stationary shops were asked to vacate. The eviction process faced stiff opposition from mobile vendors who maintained that they were not given prior intimation about the eviction.

“We were not informed regarding the eviction process and now that we have left with no option,” said T. Murugan, who was one among the vendor who was vacated from the market.

However, MMC authorities maintained that the unauthorized encroachment of the market spaces has been persistent for a long time and the eviction has been carried out as per the orders of the member secretary of MMC.

“We have warned such vendors for a long time, and we have taken this step to give a strong signal to all the vendors who are trying to encroach the market space illegally,” said Rajan Babu, Assistant engineer who had supervised the eviction drive along with T. Balasubhramanyam, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), MMC and 35 policemen. The eviction drive will continue till October 9 until all such unauthorized shops are removed, MMC officials said.

Market officials also cleaned the vegetable, fruit and flower markets, removed all unauthorised hoardings in front of the vegetable market and the fruit market.