Loop Road has been witness to innumerable stories. A new chapter has dawned with the modern fish market newly established by the Greater Chennai Corporation at Nochikuppam. The facility costing Rs. 9.97 crores was inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in August 2024 and hopes to change the face of the fishing business in the city. It has 366 stalls of which 332 have been allotted to the fish vendors who were plying their trade on Loop Road.It has a plethora of amenities to facilitate trade, from the provision of fresh water and storage facilities to the waste management processes implemented.
Madras Musings visited the new market and met the vendors. We discovered that the ground reality is not quite in line with expectations. Most vendors complain that they are uncomfortable with the market’s circular design and the allotment of shops – customers rarely reach the rear end of the market, so many sellers are struggling with low footfalls. The facility’s layout and flow have thus been a bit of a disappointment and concerns have been raised about its effectiveness for both vendors and customers alike. Many sellers have chosen to locate themselves in the market’s parking lot, instead.
