Fort and Pettah hawkers to be relocated in new shopping complex at Charmer’s Granary
Wednesday, 28th October 2014
By providing them shops they will have legal ownership and will be rate payers of the municipality
Pavement hawkers in the Pettah and Fort area will be relocated at the new shopping complex consisting of 1500 shops planned to be constructed at the 9- acre Charmer’s Granary in Pettah, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) said.
In the 2015 budget released last week it was said that the Ministry of Finance has allocated rupees 1200 million for the construction of these shops.
The new shopping complex will have 1500 shops and a leisure area with public convenience facilities like food stalls, public seating arrangements and washrooms.
The shopping complex is to be constructed at the former 9-acre Chamer’s Granary that was vested by the government to the UDA.
Speaking about the project the UDASenior Consultant Planning WeerasenaAdikari said that they were unable to go ahead with the relocation of the pavement hawkers and carry out the construction procedures due to the lack of funds.
“With funds being made available next year plans are being made to carry out the relocation and commence construction. We are hoping to finish all procedures by December 2015 or early 2016,” he said.
Adding that not all shopkeepers have given their consent Adikari said that this is being done to liberate the pavements, reduce congestion and increase the incomes of pavement hawkers.
“These pavement hawkers provide a service, help generate an income and are one of the key players in the city. However they are carrying out an informal business. They do not have legal ownership and they don’t pay taxes. By providing them unit shops in an organised shopping complex they will have legal ownership and will be rate payers of the municipality which would help increase their incomes,” he said.
Adikari further said that measures are being taken to relocate Manning Market in Pettah to Peliyagoda. The vacated land will be utilized for the construction of a multi modal transport hub that connects the fort railway station and bus station.
“All businesses and retailers will receive an alternate business space at the market to be constructed in Peliyagoda. This is a two-way process where developments are being made in Peliyagoda and the Fort area made more organized,” he said.
Adikari said that the plans are being drawn for the complex at Peliyagoda and they are waiting for funds to carry out the relocations.
The changes being made are part of a huge Urban Development Plan that has been designed for the Fort and Pettah area.
The UDA is executing the project under instructions from the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.
From : http://epaper.dailymirror.lk/epaper/viewer.aspx
