Traders fear loss of business at MG Road

KOCHI: The traders and merchants having their business establishments on MG Road have opposed the proposal by Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) to restrict the traffic on the main arterial road to one side as part of a beautification plan. “KMRL’s beautification plan of MG Road by blocking half of it will have a negative impact on thousands of people employed in the area and merchants,” said MG Road Merchants Association (MGRMA).

The association has decided to submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to seek his intervention in the issue, Mr Riaz Ahamad, president of MGRMA, told reporters on Friday. “We are in favour of beautification but it should be done without affecting the traffic. The present plan will worsen traffic congestion in the city and would lead to people keeping away from MG Road, the city's prime business area. It is an unscientific move and will sound the death knell of business establishments on MG Road, which are already burdened by the Metro work,” he said.

Mr Rajesh Nair, coordinator of MGRMA, Mr Antony Alappat of Alappat Heritage and Mr Rajaram Shenoy of Sree Venkateswara Tiles stated that the Metro work had already hit the business very badly on MG Road. The merchants said 60 per cent of the business had declined with the beginning of Metro work and if the KMRL goes ahead with its plan, 50 per cent of business establishments in the area would be forced to close down.

They also refuted the claims of KMRL that the majority of traders supported the move. “KMRL has failed to take traders into confidence before finalizing the plan. It is yet to respond to the concerns raised by traders,” said the MGRMA president. Mr. Nair said the KMRL had also not shared the details of the project with traders despite repeated requests. Describing the project as unscientific, he said the KMRL had prepared the beautification project without making any alternative arrangements for the traffic management.