Food street near VOC Park in Coimbatore remains largely empty
A new food street project in Coimbatore, India, is struggling with low occupancy, as only five of its 24 shops have been rented since opening. The local corporation is now considering a new initiative to support street vendors near VOC Ground as they evaluate the failure of the current facility.
Why it matters
This highlights challenges in urban planning and the economic viability of government-funded infrastructure projects intended to formalize street vending.
A food street developed by the Coimbatore Corporation near VOC Park has struggled to attract vendors, with only five of its 24 shops occupied since it was opened in 2025.
The project, launched in October 2023 and originally scheduled for completion by March 2024, was taken up at a cost of ₹1 crore. The 24 shops were completed recently, along with a mini dining space and minor drainage works costing another ₹30 lakh, a Corporation official said.
Sources said keys had been handed over to the successful bidders, but most shops remained closed. Each stall carries a monthly rent of ₹25,000, excluding GST.
Officials said there had been issues with some bidders and that the reasons for the low occupancy would be examined.
Meanwhile, the Corporation is exploring a similar facility near the VOC Ground to accommodate about 45 street vendors operating in the area.
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