Is Koyambedu Market, a Former COVID19 Hotspot in Chennai, REOPENING Soon? Details

Latest Media reports reveal that the Tamil Nadu government is likely to reopen the Koyambedu wholesale market, which was a former COVID-19 hotspot in the city of Chennai. The process is likely to take place in September and the market will be reopened in phases, starting with the vegetable wholesale trade which will be the first one to be operations. 

The New Indian Express cited sources in its report who revealed that Deputy Chief Minister O Paneerselvam, who was unavailable when the traders met Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, reviewed this along with Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority officials and wanted the work to be completed in the next two or three weeks. 

Reportedly, the fruit and flower market will be opened subsequently. This means that the Koyambedu wholesale market is likely to begin from Gate number 7 and 14 respectively. 

Reports also suggest that the government is also likely to open the food grain market.

“The closure of the market on May 5 after COVID-19 cases were detected has affected the livelihoods of traders. Sources said the temporary market in Thirumazhisai, which was allocated to 240 wholesale traders, would be shut immediately after the vegetable wholesale traders move into the Koyambedu market,” The New Indian Express stated in its report. 

Few reports also suggest that the market might be trying to adopt an odd- even formula. “With the decks being cleared to reopen the Koyambedu wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market, traders are mulling opening of shops on a rotational basis to ease congestion and prevent the spread of COVID-19,” The New Indian Express cited in another media report on the subject.