Chennai: What crisis? It’s just another day at Koyambedu market

CHENNAI: Thousands flocked to the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex (KWMC) on Thursday to buy vegetables, fruits and flowers with little regard to social distancing norms and other restrictions in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The enormous crowd came a day after the Market Management Committee, which maintains the market, appealed to the public to avoid the place.
It seemed like a regular day at the market. The parking slots on both entry points were clogged and people were seen arguing and jostling for space to park their vehicles. Several vendors had set up their wares outside. Few were sporting masks and social distancing seemed unheard of.
“It doesn’t feel like there is a outbreak, look at the crowd, it’s been increasing day by day,” said T Venkatesh, a vegetable vendor here. “Usually the market is crowded in the morning until 10am to 11am. But now, it’s packed till 2pm or 3pm. This has been the scene here for the last few days.”
While people from across the city come to Koyambedu for cheap vegetables, drivers, who were rendered jobless due to the lockdown, visit Koyambedu in their vehicles to buy vegetables for selling in their neighbourhood. “These mobile shops are run by workers depending on daily wages. They were not our regular customers in the past,” S Chandran, secretary of Federation of Wholesale Vegetable Market Associations, said.
When contacted, a CMDA official said two-wheelers will be banned from entering the marketplace from Friday . “Only those owned by wholesalers and their employees will be allowed, but they too will be given entry passes,” the official said.
(With inputs from Yogesh Kabirdoss)