In the middle of May, the century-old Thanneer Thurai market in Mylapore was demolished. While the end of what would have qualified as a heritage building in any other country is distressing by itself, what is perhaps being missed is the greater threat to Mylapore as a whole that this act portends. There are strong rumours that this historic precinct – perhaps one of the oldest areas in Chennai – is being targeted for rapid commercial development.

Madras Musings understands that business establishments that have made T’Nagar synonymous with commerce and urban chaos are keen to establish a base in Mylapore and convert it into a similar shopping area. Apparently, the increasing flak that these organisations have faced in T’Nagar owing to encroachments, illegal constructions and lack of fire safety has made most of them feel that it is time to move on to a new district. There is also a growing feeling that with the choking of T’Nagar, the area cannot provide much more by way of business growth and Mylapore, given its location as a gateway to South Chennai, is the best way to entice those living in the new, IT-dominated colonies that are springing up in the suburbs. The shopping complex owners in T’Nagar are also apparently envisaging a fall in business if the plans of the Government to convert the place into an aerial city materialise. It is feared that prolonged construction work in T’Nagar would harm commercial interests.

Consequently, Madras Musings is told, more and more of the business barons of T’Nagar are buying up old buildings, houses and vacant plots around the four Mada Streets of Mylapore, in Luz and along Royapettah High Road. Some have already built multi-storeyed showrooms and more are to follow. It is also reported that the Thanneer Thurai market changed hands a few years ago with a T’Nagar-based business buying the place and evicting those who had shops in the arcade. Some resisted, but most opted for immediate settlements. Only two tenants are fighting eviction today. The owners have claimed that they have demolished the market following a court order in their favour. It is said that plans are afoot to build a multi-storeyed shopping complex on the site.

If that is true, it could spell chaos, for the market is located in the narrowest part of Royapettah High Road. There is no parking space anywhere in the vicinity and, even during normal days, traffic crawls along this stretch. In fact the Police have made this road one-way in an attempt to ease the flow of traffic. The area is also surrounded by very narrow streets. Looking at it pessimistically, it is alarmingly like Ranganathan Street and we know what that thoroughfare has now become.

What is surprising is that our town planners and the CMDA are silent while such highrises come up in the most congested areas. There is no vision for Mylapore and how it is to be maintained, striking a balance between its heritage and the necessity to keep abreast with the times. If the ‘T’Nagarisation’ of Mylapore proceeds without any planning, it will be an act of wanton destruction of an area known for history and culture.

The Thanneer Thurai market is an illustration of the foresight of the residents of the area. The brainchild of Sir V. Bhashyam Iyengar who lived at Vembakkam Gardens (the present-day Vidya Mandir School), the market was constructed along the Buckingham Canal so that vegetables and other goods could be brought in by boat and offloaded at the pier. With the degradation of the canal, such activities ceased and the market became like any other, though it was known for the sharp tongues of its vendors. With Government making repeated noises about the restoration of the canal as a navigable waterway, this market too could have been revived. Even otherwise, it could have been preserved like the Krishnaraja and Russells Markets in Bangalore and the Devaraja Market in Mysore. But real estate demands have willed otherwise.