With several commercial complexes constructed by the Erode Corporation under the Smart Cities Mission remaining unoccupied for years, reportedly resulting in substantial revenue loss for the civic body, the traders have urged the authorities to conduct public auctions for vacant shops and bring the facilities into use as early as possible.

The commercial complex on Gandhiji Road, constructed at ₹24.94 crore, has 65 shops, space for a supermarket, eateries, a children’s play area and parking facilities. It was inaugurated in August 2022 by the former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. However, except for the parking facilities, most of the shops are vacant. Though the Corporation reduced the rent by 25% and floated tenders five times, only a few shops have been occupied. Efforts taken in March this year to invite the public to participate in the tender process also failed to attract tenants.

The Nethaji Mall on R.K.V. Road, constructed at ₹29.85 crore after demolishing the old vegetable market, was inaugurated in February 2024. The 268 shops in the mall were originally intended for vegetable traders. However, as more than 700 traders continued to operate from the VOC Park Grounds premises and were reluctant to shift to the new building, the Corporation converted it into a shopping mall. Citing high rent and advance deposit amounts, private companies and business establishments refrained from participating in the tender process despite five rounds of tenders.

A commercial complex with parking facilities built at the Central Bus Stand at ₹45.33 crore and inaugurated in December 2024 has also not been fully utilised. Many shops remain vacant due to high rent and deposit amounts, and repeated attempts by the Corporation to auction the shops have failed.

The ₹52-crore E.K.M. Abdul Gani Textile Hub (Gani Market) that houses more than 292 textile shops in four floors was initially allotted to traders. But a steep increase in rent and deposit amounts, coupled with poor business prospects, forced more than 100 traders to vacate their shops, many of which continue to remain vacant.

At the newly established bus stand at Solar, fewer than 10 shops are currently functioning of the total of 134 shops, six stalls, a dispensary, four cloakrooms, two restaurants, two dormitories and a hall.

A Corporation official told The Hindu that efforts taken in March this year to auction shops in all the commercial complexes did not yield the expected response. A fresh auction process would be initiated next month, the official said.