Residents demand new ration shops in their neighbourhood to avoid long walks

Residents demand new ration shops due to long distances, prompting officials to explore construction options in Chennai.

Residents have demanded the construction of new buildings for ration shops in the city as they have to walk long distances to buy essential commodities.

Otteri resident Madan Kumar said those in Shivashanmugapuram B Block in Thiru.Vi.Ka Nagar Assembly Constituency had requested the GCC to facilitate construction of a new ration shop in an old building which used to house a Boys Club. “The residents of 800 households who have voted in Thiru.Vi. Ka Nagar Assembly Constituency have to walk long distances to Parthasarathypuram in Purasawalkam in the Egmore Assembly Constituency. We request the GCC officials to explore the feasibility of construction of the new ration shop in the Boys Club building which remains closed and is no longer functioning,” he said.

Former Chennai Corporation Councillor S.Mangala Raj said residents in Srinivasapuram had to visit the ration shop in Leith Castle Street to buy essential commodities. “Srinivasapuram has a large population and has government land to build a new ration shop. The residents need a new ration shop in Srinivasapuram,” he said.

Ward 35 councillor S.Jeevan said Erukkencherry residents demanded a new ration shop in Anjugam Nagar. “I have spoken about the need for a new ration shop in the Chennai Corporation Council meeting. I will wait for one month. If the GCC officials delay the process for construction of the ration shop, I will utilise my councillors’ ward development fund for the building. Of the 11 ration shops in my ward, 10 ration shops were functioning from rented premises before I was elected councillor. In the past few years, I have facilitated the construction of two new ration shops under MLA Local Area Development Fund and two new ration shops under councillors’ ward development fund. Six out of the 11 ration shops require new buildings,” he said.

Officials of the Food and Cooperation and Consumer Protection Department said they had been talking to GCC councillors and other elected representatives to identify land for construction of new buildings under councillors’ ward development fund and MLA Local Area Development Scheme.