The insulated boxes are expected to replace the thermocol units used now by vendors, which are ideally not safe for storing fish. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

The seafood vendors at the Loop Road fish market in Pattinapakkam will receive insulated fisheries boxes, each with a capacity of 70 litres from the Greater Chennai Corporation soon.

An official said, “They are similar to supermarket freezer units and require an electrical connection. The initiative follows complaints from customers about declining seafood quality. The boxes are expected to replace the thermocol units used now by vendors, which are ideally not safe for storing fish. Each of the licensed 163 vendors in the market would be provided with two boxes.”

Meanwhile, the vendors continue selling from the parking area instead of the designated stalls. Only the stalls have electric sockets that can charge the new boxes. Vendors moved from the stalls to the parking area in early December 2024, citing space constraints and competition-related concerns, the official mentioned. The GCC is in the process of getting the vendors back to their designated stalls.

“Two meetings were held last month with about 45 vendor representatives to address these concerns. Another meeting was arranged at the Teynampet Zone office in Valluvar Kottam, but the representatives did not attend. A further meeting is scheduled for April. GCC will soon ensure vendors operate from the allocated stalls under the tensile structure,” he added.

A corporation official acknowledged that competition was not as severe when vendors sold on the beach, as they were lined up without a fixed front or back, making them equally visible. “Now, the market design places some vendors between others, leading to concerns that those in the periphery stalls attract more customers, while those in the middle face losses,” he added.