Fish vendors’ encroachments choke Chintadripet roads

Chennai: Encroachments by fish vendors and other traders on pavements and roadsides have worsened traffic congestion around the Chintadripet fish market. When TOI visited the market at Arunachalam Street on Sunday morning, not only fish vendors but also hawkers selling clothes, utensils, stationery and toys had occupied large portions of the pavements.

Though the market is located just 1km from Chintadripet railway station, motorists said it took at least 15 to 20 minutes to cross the market stretch due to traffic bottlenecks.Residents said the lack of a designated parking area for customers has worsened the problem, forcing people to park vehicles along both sides of the already narrow road. M Sathish Kumar, a senior citizen and resident of Kalavai Chetty Street, said, “During peak business hours, vendors keep insulated fish boxes and fish crates filled with ice on the roadside.

As the ice melts, water mixed with fish waste flows onto the street, making the road muddy, slippery and foul-smelling.

”On condition of anonymity, a member of the Chintadripet fishermen welfare association said, “Many vendors sell fish on the pavements because there is no space allotted for them inside the market. People with political influence control the spaces inside the market and give preference to those who pay them.

The issue can be solved if the govt hands over the management of the market to the fishermen’s welfare association.

”GCC commissioner G S Sameeran said, “We will coordinate with the Greater Chennai Traffic Police and the fish vendors’ association to ensure shops are not extended onto pavements. Action will be taken against violators.” Traffic police officers any shops put on pavements will be evicted.