Citizen Connect: Residents complain of ulterior motive in relocation of T Nagar ration shop

Residents of T Nagar are opposing the relocation of a ration shop without prior information and raised demands to shift the shop back to its original location.

In a representation sent to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and others, B Kannan, secretary of T Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association said that the TUCS (Tamilnadu Urban Cooperative Society Ltd) shops T Nagar 1 and T Nagar 2 have been functioning in its own society premises on Rameshwaram Road for more than 50 years.

“Now, the shops have been shifted to a building on Mambalam High Road without informing the cardholders,” he added.

When DT Next visited, a notice was seen affixed on the shutter saying that the shop has been shifted to new location from February 1. Unlike to the new location, which has no space for customers could to wait, the old location was spacious.

It was also learnt that the residents had not raised any complaint or request demanding the shifting of the shops. “The move would affect the cardholders of over 15 streets,” Krishnan said.

Normally, the ration shops are set up closer to residential areas. There seems to be an ulterior motive in shifting the shops from out of TUCS-owned property to another place. A similar move was made earlier but had to be abandoned due to protests from residents, the petition pointed out.

The residents also alleged that the construction of building the new building on public space defiles the concept of Smart City, which is extensively being implemented in the shopping hub.

“How did the Chennai Corporation officials allow the construction of building on the public space? Acts such as this will only encourage encroachments to mushroom,” a resident said.

Tamilnadu Urban Cooperative Society Ltd officials were unavailable for comments.