GCC Collects 122 Valid Stall Forms for Loop Road Market Amid Vendor Concerns

The Greater Chennai Corporation collected willingness forms from fish vendors on Loop Road near Marina on Monday after its proposed re-allotment of stalls at the Modern Fish Market failed to take place as planned. Out of 160 vendors who submitted forms, only 122 matched the fisheries department’s official beneficiary list that will be used for the allotment process.

A civic official stated that many fish vendors were initially reluctant to relocate due to inadequate storage space and a seating layout that did not suit their business operations. To address these concerns, the civic body announced plans to redesign the facility, including expanding individual stall sizes from 7 feet by 5 feet to 10 feet by 5 feet to offer additional storage space.

The corporation also plans to introduce a one-way entry and exit system alongside view-cutters within the market. According to official plans, this will ensure that customers move through all the stalls, with vendors positioned on either side to improve visibility and encourage purchases.

However, fish vendors dismissed the civic body’s measures and alleged that a majority of local vendors remain unwilling to move into the market structure. Vendors highlighted unresolved infrastructure flaws, explaining that the roof traps heat, which causes fish to spoil faster and makes the facility unsuitable for daily business.

Mullaikodi M, a 56-year-old fish vendor from Nochikuppam, stated that many original beneficiaries refused to occupy the stalls when the market initially opened because of its poor design. Consequently, vacant stalls were given to new entrants, and it is primarily these newer vendors who have now expressed a willingness to shift. She added that older vendors currently operating inside the market fear losing their present stall positions during the re-allotment process.

Vendors also raised concerns over the reduction in total stalls caused by the enlarged layout. Out of 366 total stalls in the market, 332 had previously been allotted. With the redesign expected to drop the total number of stalls below 300, vendors questioned the fate of those who had already received stall allotments. Another vendor suggested converting the current market structure into a community hall for local residents, noting that the area currently lacks such a facility.

In response to ongoing issues, the Nochikuppam fishermen community announced a hunger strike scheduled for Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The demonstration aims to demand protection for fish vending and the abandonment of proposed tourism projects along the coastal region.