Koyembedu Market to re-open in a phased manner from September 28: OPS

The Deputy CM of Tamil Nadu, O Panneerselvam has announced that the wholesale vegetable market in Koyembedu will start functioning in a phased manner from September 28, while the wholesale fruits and flower market will open eventually.

Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex, the largest in Asia, receives supplies from across Tamil Nadu, neighbouring states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Telangana and even from far-away Maharashtra and West Bengal. Eventually, the Market was shut down during the month of May, after it was deducted as a major COVID -19 cluster, is set to reopen after various requests from the trade unions and political parties. The temporary market set up in Thirumazhisai will be closed apparently. The decision comes hours after the Deputy Chief Minister, O Panneerselvam, who also heads the urban development department, conducted an inspection in the Koyembedu Market, reviewing the safety measures to be implemented in the market in the wake of its reopening.

OPS announced that the wholesale grains market will be the first one to reopen in Koyembedu, on September 18, followed by the wholesale vegetable shops on September 28. The fruits and flowers market will open up during the last phase.

The announcement further said that trucks carrying goods for the market will be allowed to park in the temporary parking lot allotted near Gate A and only one vehicle per shop will be allowed to enter the market. The goods trucks will be permitted only from 6 pm to 10pm and have to leave the premises before 12pm after unloading. However, OPS said that no private persons, autorickshaws and two-wheelers will be allowed inside the market for purchase.

OPS also said that all the traders who are permitted to re-open business within the market will be given ID cards and will be permitted to enter the market only after proper sanitation. Further, he said it is mandatory for all the traders to wear facemask all through their business hours and every shop should equip itself with sanitisers, ensuring that everyone working there should wear masks and wear identity cards.

The shops will be closed for a day each week for sanitation, he said.