Traders of Koyambedu market struggle without alternative place to run biz

Making matters worse for them, despite remaining shut for a month, the traders also have to pay the rent.It has been over a month since the semi-wholesale and retail shops in the market were shut down. While a section of wholesalers was provided space at Tirumazhisai, the smaller traders were promised that the Koyambedu market would be reopened after disinfection.

“There are more than 2,000 wholesale shops at Koyambedu market but only 200 shops were given space at Tirumazhisai. There are over 1,800 semi-wholesale shops that were closed before the market complex was shut down. The officials had assured that it will be opened after a week,” said Prabhakaran T, a semi-wholesale trader at Koyambedu wholesale market, adding how he has not had any income since the end of April.

Though the shops are closed for a month, the traders are forced to pay rent of about Rs 30,000. “Even in this situation, shop owners are asking us to pay the rent. But we don’t have money even for a single meal per day. So we don’t have a choice but ask the owners to deduct money from the advance we gave. The rent I pay is Rs 20,000, and had given an advance of Rs 2 lakhs. The advance money was the only thing that could help us in an emergency situation. But it would be difficult to borrow money in the coming days. For some vendors, owners have given time to pay the rent after the situation normalises,” said Murugan K, a retailer at the market.

With no options left, a few traders are working with the wholesalers at Tirumazhisai. “I recently joined a wholesale shop. Though the money is not enough after standing for more than eight hours, I am at least able to get some essentials for home,” said P Lucas, a semi-wholesale trader. 

Even the wholesale traders at Tirumazhisai market are urging officials to reopen Koyambedu market or allot another place after suffering losses in their business. 

When contacted, a senior official at Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority said they have been cleaning and disinfecting the Koyambedu market for the last three days, adding that it would continue for the next few days. “Allotting space for semi-wholesalers and retailers is under discussion. A decision on reopening the market or allotting space for the traders will be made soon,” the official added.

 The prices of fruits and vegetables at Tirumazhisai market increased on Sunday due to a shortage of produce. Vendors said that the prices have gone up by up to 10 per cent in the market.

“We were receiving enough loads from the day we opened the market and there was a price dip. But the number of loads decreased on Sunday. Also, the produce in the market started to dry faster due to the rise in temperature. Consequently, the prices increased by up to 10 per cent. The prices will come down only after enough loads are supplied to the market,” said P Sukumaran, secretary of Koyambedu Wholesale Market Merchants’ Association.

Currently, onion is sold for Rs 15 to 20 per kg, tomato at Rs 25, beans at Rs 80, broad beans at Rs 40, chilli at Rs 30, carrots at Rs 20 to 25, beetroot at Rs 20 to 25 and drumsticks at Rs 25.

As sales have come down, vegetable vendors are facing many difficulties at the market. They added that vegetables are being stolen from the shops at night. “We are already we are facing a loss in business. Recently, vegetables were stolen from shops at night and we were unable to nab the culprit. We have filed a complaint with the CMDA officials,” said R Thyagarajan, a wholesale trader at Tirumazhisai market.