Poor response to auction of shops at Erode central bus terminal

Less than 40% of the shops available for rent were auctioned at the newly-constructed commercial complex at the Erode Corporation’s central bus terminal on Wednesday.

The terminal, established in 1973, also housed a commercial complex with shops. Over time, the complex became unstable, prompting the civic body to demolish it. As part of the Smart Cities Mission, the civic body began modernising the bus terminal in September 2021, which included constructing a new complex. The works were completed recently.

The new complex featured 32 shops and a restaurant space on the ground floor, along with 22 shops, a supermarket space, and a showroom on the first floor. An auction for these shops was held at the Corporation’s central office on Wednesday, but the response was poor.

A Corporation official noted that only 19 shops in the ground floor were auctioned while there were no takers for shops and other space in the first floor. The official said that a resolution would be placed in the council meeting for allotting the shops and for re-auctioning of vacant shops.

The civic body held an auction on March 5 for shops at the newly established satellite bus stand in Solar. That auction included 134 shops, six stalls, one dispensary, four cloakrooms, two restaurants, two dormitories, and one hall. However, only 14 shops were auctioned, with no takers for the remaining units.