Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates the new Palayam market at Kalluthankadavu in Kozhikode on Tuesday. | Photo credit: K. Ragesh
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday inaugurated the new Palayam Vegetable and Fruit Complex at Kalluthankadavu in Kozhikode amid protests by vendors and political organizations in the Palayam market area. In his inaugural speech, the Prime Minister criticized the attitude of conflicting projects that aim to improve society. “Once the elections are over, the ruling front and the opposition should work together to improve and develop society. Constructive criticism is welcome. But it is not mandatory for the opposition to oppose everything the ruling front does,” he said.
A section of vendors in the old market protested on Tuesday and expressed their unwillingness to move to the new Palayam market in Kozhikode. The uproar led to a clash between agitators and businessmen who supported the new initiative. | Photo credit: K. Ragesh
Mayor Beena Philip presided over the event. PA Public Works and Tourism Minister Mohamed Riyas inaugurated the Wholesale and Free Market section while Local Government Minister MB Rajesh inaugurated the multi-level market.
Located on a 5.5-acre plot at Kalluthankadavu in the city, the new Palayam market was built in a public-private partnership model by the Kalluthankadavu Area Development Company (KADCO) at a cost of ₹100 crore. The market is located where a slum once existed. In 2019, the residents of the slum were moved to a nearby apartment complex. The 3.5 thousand square feet market is one of the largest of its kind in the state. It will accommodate 310 shops. The first floor of the building in six blocks is directly accessible from the Meenchanda-Arayidathupalam bypass. Autorickshaws and trucks can be taken to higher floors via ramps. At present, 153 vendors have secured their rooms in the new market and are accommodated in a building owned by Kozhikode Corporation in Palayam market.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister distributed the keys to the shops to some of the vendors. Deputy MLAs Ahamed Devarkovil, Thottathil Raveendran, Deputy Mayor CPMusafir Ahamed and District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh were present.
At the same time, there were concerns that the Kozhikode Corporation had not taken into account vendors operating from other buildings in the market, as well as street vendors and other workers involved. These sections protested from the beginning of the project and called for a systematic and well-planned transition of the market.
On Tuesday, they staged a protest with placards and black flags ahead of the chief minister’s arrival, saying they would not move out of the market at any cost. They were opposed by vendors who agreed to move to the new market, leading to a clash. Police intervened to control the crowd.
Published – 21 Oct 2025 20:43 IST
