The Corporation’s newly built shopping hub at Kalaimadu Silai Junction in Erode in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: GOVARTHAN M.
The ₹24.94-crore shopping complex built by the Erode Corporation on Gandhiji Road near Kalaimadu Silai Junction is set to get a new purpose, with two special courts to be established on its premises after the facility remained largely unoccupied for four years.The civic body had taken up the project under the Smart City Mission in March 2020 and the work was completed in 2022. The complex has 65 shops, parking space for 70 cars and two-wheelers, an open dining area, escalators, lifts and other amenities. The size of the shops ranges from 161.46 sq. ft. to 2,600 sq. ft. The facility was inaugurated in August 2020 by former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. However, the shops remained unoccupied, mainly owing to high rent and security deposit. Though the Corporation reduced the rent by 25% and floated tenders on five occasions, the shops failed to attract occupants. The parking facility is the only portion of the complex currently in use.In June 2026, the Principal District Judge sought space from the Corporation for establishing special courts to deal with cases under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.The Corporation has decided to allot six shops — Nos. 57, 58, 61, 62, 63 and 65 — on the second floor for the court dealing with cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Seven shops — Nos. 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41 and 43 — on the first floor have been allotted for the POCSO court.As per government guidelines, the rent has been fixed at ₹83 per sq. ft. The total monthly rent for the premises allotted to the courts will be ₹6,96,942. A Corporation official said the agreement would be for 12 years. Published - August 11, 2026 05:45 pm IST
