Minister for Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi M. Vijay Balaji on Saturday (May 23, 2026) assured traders that the State government would take appropriate steps to ensure that the livelihoods of traders and the public dependent on the in Erode were not affected.

Addressing reporters after a thanksgiving event held at the market, the Minister said the government would consider the long-pending demands and grievances of traders and residents in the area. He said there was a proposal to establish a market at the bus stand in the Solar area. However, shifting the existing market, which supplies essential commodities, to the outskirts of the city would force people to travel nearly 8 km and adversely affect both traders and the public.

Stating that residents had insisted that the market should continue to function within the town limits considering transportation convenience, the Minister said the government would hold discussions with officials and take suitable action to ensure that livelihoods were not affected.

The Minister also said traders’ associations had long sought allotment of shops in the market area that were completed more than 10 years ago but had not yet been brought into use. He said the government would examine the legal issues involved and take steps to allot the shops at the earliest.

On complaints regarding the alleged illegal collection of money in the name of “gate pass” without issuing receipts in the market area, the Minister said the Corporation would conduct an inquiry. He warned that strict legal action would be taken if any violations of Corporation rules were found.