CHENNAI: More than 1,500 shops in and around the shopping hub of Purasawalkam were shut on Tuesday in protest of the proposed metro rail stations in the locality as part of the Phase 2 project as traders demanded compensation for the shops that will be razed down for construction. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has planned two stations — Purasawalkam and Doveton — in corridor three that will link a 46.1km stretch from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Siruseri Sipcotn via the IT hub along OMR. The 107.55km Phase 2 will have116 stations across three corridors.Small and big showrooms and shops in Purasaiwalkam, Pattalam and Doveton downed their shutters to protest the construction which will affect many shops.A M Vikramaraja, president of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Perammaippu, said CMRL has changed its alignment and according to the new plan, around1,500 shops including textile and jewellery showrooms, grocery stores and medical shops will have to make way for the new metro rail stations.“We want CMRL to compensate traders who will lose business as well as owners of the property that will be acquired for construction. We also do not want two stations in the locality as planned by CMRL as many traders will lose their shops,” he said.The traders said they would present a petition to the chief minister on July 20 and stage a protest in Delhi on July 23 and 24.Metro rail officials said 45 commercial structures that house 144 shops would be either partially or entirely razed down to build the Doveton station and 33 shops and two apartment complexes will be affected by the construction of the Purasawalkam station.“We are going by our consultant’s design. Realignment is not feasible due to teh situation on the ground and due to traffic. The proposed stations are essential for the shopping hub in Purasawalkam,” a metro rail official said.CMRL has issued notices to nearly 800 owners to acquire their property for the construction of a part of corridors 3 and 5 in Phase 2.

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