Palayam market to be shifted to Kalluthankadavu this year, says Deputy Mayor

Kozhikode Corporation relocating Palayam market to Kalluthankadavu for better facilities, facing opposition from traders and workers.

The existing fruits and vegetables market functioning in the commercially busy area of Palayam in Kozhikode city will be relocated to the newly built shopping complex at Kalluthankadavu before the current council’s term expires this year, Deputy Mayor C.P. Musafar Ahamed has said.

Mr. Ahamed made this announcement during the council meeting of the Kozhikode Corporation on Thursday afternoon, responding to a calling attention motion by Rashtriya Janata Dal member N.C. Moyinkutty.

“The relocation will be carried out in consultation with all stakeholders, and without forcibly displacing traders and workers. Already, five rounds of discussions have taken place between the Corporation and representatives of the trading community and workers. The Corporation has served notices on 152 traders. The civic body is open to further dialogue with Palayam’s licensed vendors,” Mr. Ahamed said.

He said that the new market at Kalluthankadavu offered better facilities for both traders and workers. A salient feature was that even large lorries would easily enter the market. Besides, it had more shops when compared to Palayam market, Mr. Ahamed pointed out.

Mr. Moinkutty said that those opposing the market’s shifting were misinforming the public. One of the orchestrated campaigns was that Kalluthankadavu had only a space of about 75 cents. But the fact was that it had 5.5 acres and accommodated 300 shops, unlike the three acres at Palayam comprising 153 shops.

P.K. Nasar, chairman of the Tax Appeal Standing Committee, said that some vested interests were obstructing the market’s relocation. The Corporation was committed to protecting the traders and workers. The stubbornness of the opposition was unacceptable and unreasonable, he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party member T. Raneesh said that the Corporation should ensure the rehabilitation of all traders, while K. Moideen Koya of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) called for building a consensus with the trading community.