Long-pending demand to shift Srirangam flower market resurfaces ahead of civic budget

Residents of Srirangam have raised their long-pending demand for the relocation of the flower market from Sathara Veedhi to North Devi Street, urging Tiruchi Corporation to allocate funds in the upcoming civic budget to ease severe congestion in the temple town.

Sathara Veedhi has around 25 wholesale vendors and over 150 retail vendors. As a result, the entire stretch suffers from severe bottlenecks, especially during peak hours and festival seasons. Except for two-wheelers, no other vehicles, particularly pilgrim vehicles, can pass through the road because of the business activity and vehicles parked along the roadside.

According to residents, traffic congestion has become a daily occurrence ever since both retail and wholesale flower shops began operating on Sathara Veedhi. They point out that the road, which also serves as one of the important access routes for devotees visiting Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, is frequently choked. Constructing a new market at the proposed site, they say, would not only streamline traffic but also provide better infrastructure for vendors.

Residents, particularly those living along Sathara Veedhi, say they endure considerable hardship due to the congestion. The road has narrowed because of encroachments, and navigating the stretch has become a nightmare for motorists. Even neighbouring streets in Srirangam experience similar traffic snarls.

As a solution, the Corporation, in 2022, proposed reviving a long-pending plan to construct a new flower market on North Devi Street and shift the existing one. However, the project was shelved owing to a fund crunch.

“The demand has been pending for nearly two decades, but no concrete steps have been taken so far. We expect the civic body to allocate funds in the upcoming budget to relocate the market to the proposed site,” said Ward Councillor V. Jawahar.

“Being a prominent pilgrimage centre, Srirangam requires planned infrastructure development. Shifting the flower market is one of the long-pending demands of residents. The civic body should revive the project in the upcoming budget and ensure its implementation within a fixed timeline. While many projects are announced every year, several fail to materialise,” said Suresh Venkatachalam, president of Srirangam Nagara Nala Sangam.