Curation Team
TRICHY: The Trichy City Corporation is grappling with a severe funding shortage, raising concerns among councillors about the timely execution of development proposals ahead of the upcoming assembly election. Meanwhile, several commercial complexes built under the Smart Cities Mission remain vacant or incomplete, resulting in significant revenue losses for the civic body.
At least 58 shops across three Corporation-owned complexes have been unoccupied for the past three years. These spaces could generate over 2 crore in annual rental income if fully utilized.
For the financial year 2025–26, the Corporation projects revenue of 579 crore against expenditures of 700 crore, creating a deficit of 121 crore. This shortfall has stalled several projects, including additional office buildings and food streets in each zone.
Among underutilized assets is the Chathiram bus terminus, renovated at 28 crore in 2022. Of its shops, 35 remain vacant, causing a monthly revenue loss of around 5 lakh. The Corporation charges 137 per sq ft, with shops measuring 88 to 100 sq ft.
Similarly, the Marakkadai commercial complex, redeveloped for 9 crore, has nearly 3,000 sq ft of vacant space, resulting in a minimum monthly loss of 3 lakh.
The Puthur air-conditioned mall, sanctioned for 20 crore, is still incomplete, with flooring work pending. Once finished, its 23 shops and food court, spanning over 1 lakh sq ft, are expected to bring in 15 lakh monthly rental income. The Corporation has requested two more months for commissioning.
Councillors and traders blame high rent, almost twice that of private complexes, as a key reason for vacancies. “The rent is too steep, discouraging traders,” said LIC Shankar, councillor of Ward 20. Traders also criticize poor shop placement and inadequate parking facilities.
Corporation officials acknowledge these issues and plan to reduce rent by 25% to attract tenants. “Vacant shops at Chathiram and Marakkadai will be rented out soon. We’re also exploring options to partition spaces to offer smaller, affordable units,” a senior official told TOI.
