Rs 55.5 Crore Ornamental Fish Markets in Kolathur and Madhavaram Lie Mostly Vacant

Two state-built ornamental fish markets constructed at a combined cost of Rs 55.5 crore in North Chennai, including a major facility in Kolathur near the Padi flyover in Villivakkam and another in Madhavaram, are lying largely vacant due to low trader occupancy and a lack of basic infrastructure.

The Rs 53 crore Kolathur facility, built by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and inaugurated last October, has 188 shops but only about a dozen are currently operational. The complex was constructed to relocate approximately 150 shops from the Kolathur school road to clear traffic and allow for a road-widening project. However, because traders have refused to move, the road-widening work remains delayed.

Traders who have moved into the three-storey Kolathur building face significant operational challenges. The facility lacks a commercial lift, forcing vendors to manually haul heavy goods up the stairs. Additionally, early tenants reported that a lack of proper RO water led to fish contracting white spot disease. High rental costs, which reach up to Rs 18,000 per month for ground-floor shops, have further discouraged traders from occupying the space.

Meanwhile, the Madhavaram fish mall, built in 2019 for Rs 2.5 crore, is also nearly empty, with only three of its 44 shops open. Vendors at this location complain of a persistent stench from untreated wastewater discharged by the neighboring Aavin dairy unit. The building itself is deteriorating, featuring a chipped facade, a closed ramp, a stagnant algae pond, and a staircase without railings. An unfinished upper floor has exposed steel rods.

A fisheries department official stated that rental rates cannot be reduced because the land belongs to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department. The official noted that additional amenities, such as a cargo lift, would only be considered once occupancy rates improve.