Food stalls built by Coimbatore Corporation at VOC Park remain vacant for two years

Six unused food stalls at VOC Park in Coimbatore await auction, with concerns raised over lack of communication and affordability.

Six food stalls built by the Coimbatore Corporation at VOC Park in the city have remained unused for nearly two years.

The stalls, completed under the Smart Cities Mission at ₹30 lakh, were designed to be accessible from both inside and outside the park.

An engineering official from the Coimbatore Corporation explained that the construction of the stalls was completed over a year ago, and the tendering process was initiated two months ago. The monthly rent for each stall was set at ₹70,000.

Neeraj P., who runs a juice shop, expressed his interest in setting up an outlet at the Corporation stalls as he expected high footfall to the park and currently there was scarcity of space in the vicinity. However, the auction dates were not communicated, he said.

Local shop owners have raised concerns over the lack of communication about auction dates and pointed out that tenders were often secured by one person who rented out the stalls at a higher price. This made it difficult for potential tenants to afford to take the outlets on rent. Shopkeepers have urged the Corporation to regulate the process to ensure the stalls are being used instead of remaining vacant.

The official clarified that the auction was open to the public, allowing anyone to participate. He also addressed concerns about bats in the area causing droppings to fall from the trees. To resolve this, additional sheds are being planned, and once completed, the stalls are expected to be opened within a month.