Chief Minister inaugurates new Palayam market in Kozhikode

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the new Palayam Vegetable-Fruit Market Complex at Kalluthankadavu in Kozhikode on Tuesday amidst protests from vendors and political organisations in the Palayam market region. In his inaugural address, the Chief Minister criticised the attitude of opposing projects that are meant for the betterment of society. “Once an election is over, the ruling front and the opposition should work together for the betterment and development of society. Constructive criticism is welcome. But it is not mandatory for the opposition to oppose everything the ruling front does,” he said.

Mayor Beena Philip presided over the event. Public Works and Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas inaugurated the Wholesale and Open Market section, while Minister for Local Self-Government M.B. Rajesh inaugurated the multi-level market.

The new Palayam Market situated in a 5.5-acre plot at Kalluthankadavu in the city was built in the public-private-partnership model by the Kalluthankadavu Area Development Company (KADCO) at a cost of ₹100 crore. The market is situated on the site where a slum once existed. The residents of the slum were moved to a nearby apartment complex in 2019. The market, spread over 3.5 lakh square feet, is one of the biggest of its kind in the State. It can accommodate 310 shops. The first floor of the building, in six blocks, can be accessed directly from the Meenchanda-Arayidathupalam Bypass Road. Autorickshaws and goods vehicles can be taken to the upper floors through ramps. At present, 153 vendors who are accommodated at the Kozhikode Corporation-owned building at Palayam market have secured their rooms in the new market.

The Chief Minister gave away the shop keys to some of the vendors on the occasion. MLAs Ahamed Devarkovil, Thottathil Raveendran, Deputy Mayor C.P.Musafir Ahamed and District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh were present.

At the same time, concerns have emerged that the Kozhikode Corporation failed to consider the vendors operating from other buildings in the market, as well as street vendors and other labourers involved. These sections have been protesting since the project’s inception, calling for a systematic and well-planned transition of the market.

On Tuesday, they staged a protest carrying placards and black flags before the arrival of the Chief Minister, claiming that they were not moving out of the market at any cost. They were opposed by the vendors who had agreed to move to the new market, which led to a clash. The police intervened to control the mob.