Chief Minister Stalin to inaugurate wholesale market in Tiruvannamalai

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will soon inaugurate ₹ 24.50 crore first ever combined wholesale and retail market for vegetables, fruits, flowers and fish market in Tiruvannamalai town in September.

Officials of Tiruvannamalai Corporation, who will be will maintaining the new market, said that the construction is in its final stage with around 95% of total work completed. Remaining works include setting up of thrust lifts, lawn and a few painting works.

“The new market complex will be a one-stop shopping destination for consumers including pilgrims to Arunachaleswara temple where fresh vegetables and fruits from surrounding villages will also be sold. The new facility will be a platform for local farmers to sell their produce,” S. Selva Balaji, Commissioner, Tiruvannamalai Corporation, told The Hindu.

Accompanied by Collector K. Tharpagaraj and Corporation officials, Minister for Public Works and Highways E.V. Velu inspected finishing works at the new bus terminus and wholesale market near the town.

Corporation officials said that thrust lifts will help to collect garbage, mostly vegetable and fruit wastes, in the market to compost yards within the premises. Each lift, on an average, has a capacity to carry around 600 kg of waste. Currently, installation of lifts are underway.

Spread over 2.67 acres, the new market is being built under Kalaignar Urban Development Scheme 2022-23. The single-storey market will have vegetable and fruits shops on the ground floor and flowers market on its first floor with 128 shops on each floor. Fish market will be on the rear end of the market.

Each shop, on an average, will be 110 sq.ft and will be leased for a fixed period. Ramps will be built to allow goods laden lorries to unload commodities on the first floor of the market. Rainwater harvesting system, water taps, CCTV cameras, police booth, high mast lamps, parking and washrooms will be available as well.

At present, Jothi market,the only wholesale flower market since the 1980s, is located on Theradi Street near the Rajagopuram of the temple. It results in traffic congestion due to the continuous flow of tourists.

Big consumers like hotels and marriage event makers unload large quantities of vegetables and fruits at temporary spots in the town from lorries before the perishables were stored at their places.