Chennai: Nearly two years after GCC inaugurated a fish market for nearly 300 vendors in Nochikuppam area of Marina Loop Road, many continue to squat on the pavements.The vendors, who once encroached on the beach side, have shifted to the pavements on non-beach-side instead of moving into the market. The six-feet-wide pavements are occupied by squatters from Light House for about a kilometre, up to the fish market in Nochikuppam and beyond. The vendors keep ice boxes and boards to display fish forcing pedestrians to walk on the streets. Most vendors had abandoned the last and middle rows of the market and moved to the parking area, carriageway, and walkways. Cars ended up parked on the road.Since the Loop Road is one-way, vehicles heading to Adyar from Light House are diverted through this road. Pedestrians are at risk of getting hit by vehicles. GCC executive engineer Muthiah said they planned a drive on Wednesday to remove the vendors. “Most people on the platform have allotments in the market. They are not shifting. They say it is humid inside the market, or the space is insufficient. Until now, we focused on the Blue Flag beach restoration. We will get them removed soon,” he said.DMK MLA for Mylapore D Velu said they were building a railing for the entire 3km-long walkway and installing bollards to prevent encroachers from entering the pavements. “The vendors earn their livelihood there. We can work this out through dialogue,” Velu said.
