Madurai: Madurai corporation on Monday removed around 30 shops encroaching on the pavements at the MGR central bus stand in Mattuthavani.
Because of the encroachments, “Commuters are at the receiving end.
We were forced to navigate in a cramped space since four platforms were closed,” Vanitha, a passenger from Tirunelveli, said. A senior corporation official said during the inspection, officials found many shopowners kept products or banners beyond the yellow boundary line that they were not supposed to cross to ensure that passengers have space to navigate. Space will be provided for shops in the middle of the platforms,” the official said. This will remove the problem of encroachments,” Santhanam, one of the shopowners, said.
Passengers welcomed the encroachment removal drive. “We removed these encroachments and warned them against repeating the violation. Meanwhile, shopowners and vendors called for the renovation work to be completed soon. “Once the construction is done, there will be space for shops on platforms.