At Chennai in
Parrys area, there is the Pookkadai [flower bazaar] nearer Kothawalchavadi
[once the vegetable hub] – and it was from here vegetable would be bought as it
would be cheaper when bought in bulk quantities. The pookkadai [flower shops] have since
shifted to Koyambedu – there still exist many flower sellers in Badrian Street
selling marigold, rose, jasmine….. in strands or in kgs. Walking inside narrow streets would by itself
be an experience – there would be so much fragrance around.
The vegetable
market was ‘Kothawalchavadi’- in Georgetown [black town of British time] – the
narrow streets were extremely congested,
yet people turned up in large numbers, till 1996, when the market shifted to
Koyambedu. The market bustled with handcarts, men carrying bags of vegetables
on heads, and mini-trucks bringing them in.
In this area, the
temple of ‘Sri KanyakaParameswari’ is
famous, it is the temple of Arya Vysya community. The temple’s
website states that SriKanyakaParameswari temple was constructed
at “KooraGayalaThota” in AudiappaNaicken Street, in the year 1720. The
‘KooraGayalaThota’ [Telegu – meaning : vegetable garden] later came to be known as the Kothwal Chavadi
with 850 vegetable shops, the biggest in the city. After the shifting of the
market to Koyambedu, the vacant space
paved way for establishment of a new
Women’s College ‘ Sri KanyakaParameswari Arts & Science College’ in
1999.
Now comes the news
that the market now functioning in Audiappa Naicken street, Anna Pillai Street
area is to shrink further. The bustling
pulse and spice bazaar too is about to
be moved to Koyambedu to decongest traffic. Though there are vegetable sellers on the
streets in the morning – the main vegetable and fruits market have been
relocated to Koyambedu and the pulses too are to follow. TOI reports that the traders have been allotted a 14.5 acre
wholesale market complex with 492 shops at Koyambedu and have been asked to
shift their shops within a week. The complex, built for Rs 70 crore from funds
contributed by the traders, was conceived in 2003 and completed in June last
year. Though the opening was delayed by more than a year, listed traders have
now been issued tokens for their new shops. Also, the warehouses near the old
market at Georgetown will be moved to the city outskirts soon and the lorry sheds
will be relocated to Madhavaram.
About 2,000
wholesale traders of pulse, cereals, ghee, jaggery and other essentials run
their business from KothawalChawadi market. The winding lanes of the
pre-independence era market area will be decongested after the shift. The move
might benefit some, but sure would hit the loadmen, cart pullers and others who
make a living out of the movement of goods.
The narrow lanes at KothawalChawadi would seemingly look impossible to
navigate – not for those workmen who would carry good on head or cart them with
ease.
Remember
that all mofussil buses used to operate from Broadway bus stand; and Transport
Corporation buses to other cities from nearer High Court and MUC – when they
were moved to Koyambedu, many small time hawkers and pedlars suffered; so also
many hotels in Parrys area. Change is
inevitable ! – sadly, those at lower echelons suffer much when such change
sweeps !
Koyambedu
Wholesale Market Complex (KWMC) is one of Asia's largest perishable goods
market complex located at Koyambedu, Chennai. The market complex spread over an
area of 295 acres was inaugurated in 1996.
It abuts Poonamalee High Road and Nesapakkam Road. It houses vegetable shops, fruit and flower
shops. Now it is to have pulses
too.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
17th Aug 2015.
