Chennai’s vibrant Kolathur ornamental fish market, the second largest in the country, is about to get a modern makeover. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has announced plans to construct a new market complex, spanning 4.5 acres, at an estimated cost of ₹53 crore.
This initiative, conceived by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, aims to provide a clean, spacious, and organized environment for the thriving fish trade. The market currently houses over 1,000 varieties of ornamental fish, including popular breeds like Oscars, Gourami, sucker fish, guppy, carp, and goldfish.
The new complex, a two-story structure, will offer space for 180 shops, effectively regularizing the current mix of legal and illegal stalls. With an estimated monthly turnover of ₹300 crore, the Kolathur market is a significant economic hub. The new market complex will feature a unique wall-mounted glass fish tank for eight stalls, offering a captivating display of aquatic life.
The CMDA has designed the new market complex with a focus on both functionality and aesthetics. The ground floor will house 64 shops, while the first and second floors will accommodate 70 and 54 shops respectively. Each shop will measure 4 meters by 5 meters and will have a height of 3.75 meters.
Beyond the shops, the complex will offer a range of amenities, including a large promenade on the northern facade, a spacious open-air theatre, and two courtyards with aquariums. The second floor will also feature a food court with a seating capacity of 250 people, which will be leased to a private contractor.
The complex will cater to the needs of vendors and visitors alike, with dedicated parking space for 230 cars and 200 bikes. The CMDA will oversee the construction, while the Fisheries Department will manage the maintenance. The project will also focus on regularizing the existing unlicensed shops, bringing them under the CMDA’s purview.
The project is expected to significantly boost the ornamental fish trade in Chennai, attracting both local and international buyers. The new market complex is poised to create a more organized and efficient ecosystem, contributing to the growth and prosperity of the ornamental fish industry in the region.
