In a significant move to decongest vital city arteries, the Trichy Corporation's vending committee has officially declared two chronically crowded stretches as no-vending zones. This decision aims to streamline vehicle flow and enhance pedestrian safety around the iconic Rockfort temple area.
Identifying the Chronic Bottlenecks
The committee, after consultations with vendor representatives, pinpointed two specific locations causing major traffic snarls. The first is the Kaliammankoil Road–Nandhikoil Road nexus near Periyasamy Towers at Chathiram bus stand. The second is the NSB Road segment between the Main Guard Gate and the entrance to the Rockfort temple.
Approximately 500 metres in each of these stretches has now been formally notified as prohibited for street vending activities. This action follows the recent clearance of encroachments from around the four banks of the Teppakulam tank within the temple complex.
Phased Relocation Plan for Vendors
The corporation has finalized six alternative locations to rehabilitate the displaced vendors in a structured, phased manner. Vendors operating on Kaliammankoil and Nandhikoil roads, which serve as key access routes to densely populated residential lanes behind Rockfort hill, will be moved to two designated spots.
These vendors will be relocated to the Kaliammankoil multi-level car parking (MLCP) facility and the established Nandhikoil street market. Their shift is scheduled to begin from Tuesday, as confirmed by a corporation official.
For the vendors on NSB Road, including numerous bicycle-mounted sellers near major retail outlets, four nearby sites have been allocated. The new locations are:
- From Lalitha Jewelry to St Joseph's School (64 metres)
- Front side of Poompuhar handicraft showroom (10 metres)
- From WB Road Tamil Sangam to Poompuhar showroom (57 metres)
- Rear side of the Central library (60 metres)
This provides a total of 181 metres of vending space as an alternative.
Festival Grace Period and Broader Impact
With the Pongal festival just weeks away, the corporation has shown flexibility. Vendors on NSB Road have been permitted to continue their sales until January 20, 2026, after which they must move to the new sites. This grace period is intended to allow them to benefit from the festive rush.
The overall initiative is expected to clear encroachments from roughly 1.2 kilometres of roads surrounding the Main Guard Gate, Teppakulam, and the Rockfort hillock. To ensure the success of the relocation, the corporation has also announced that on-street parking around the new vending sites will be strictly regulated to maintain smooth movement for both pedestrians and vehicles.
This comprehensive plan represents a major step by the Trichy Corporation to balance the livelihood needs of street vendors with the pressing necessity of improving urban mobility and public space management in the city's core.
