Wed Jul 02 12:23:24 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ruled on a dispute over the proposed construction of a wholesale market on a portion of the Green Park in Panjapur, Tiruchi. While allowing the market’s construction on 11.68 acres, the court has directed the Tiruchi Corporation and the state government to maintain the remaining 11 acres of the park with all necessary facilities for the public. This decision came after a petition was filed by a local resident concerned about the removal of trees and the loss of the park. The court emphasized the importance of protecting public spaces and preventing anti-social activities, while also acknowledging the need for a new market to address traffic congestion.

**News Article:**

**Court Orders Preservation of Green Space Amid Market Construction in Tiruchi**

**TIRUCHI, July 2, 2025** – The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has delivered a mixed verdict regarding the fate of Green Park in Panjapur, Tiruchi. The court has permitted the construction of a wholesale vegetable and fruit market on 11.68 acres of the park, while simultaneously ordering the state government and the Tiruchi Corporation to maintain the remaining 11 acres as a public park with full amenities.

The ruling comes after a petition filed by a local resident, K. Chandrasekar, who opposed the cutting down of 1,432 trees and the conversion of the park into a market complex. The project, valued at ₹236 crore, aims to alleviate traffic congestion around the existing Gandhi Market.

The State government argued that the new market’s location near the Tiruchi Ring Road and Chennai Bypass Road would improve accessibility for transporters and reduce traffic. They also stated that removed trees were being replanted elsewhere.

However, the court emphasized the importance of preserving public spaces and preventing anti-social activities, dismissing claims that such activities justified the market’s construction. Justices S. M. Subramaniam and A. D. Maria Clete directed authorities to ensure the remaining portion of Green Park is maintained for the benefit of the community and is opened to the public as soon as possible.

This decision balances the need for improved infrastructure with the critical importance of green spaces for public well-being and environmental protection.

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