High tension prevailed at the Palayam Market in Thiruvananthapuram as the city corporation officials carried out a demolition drive against temporary structures built by local merchants. The merchants launched a fierce protest against the action, accusing Mayor Arya Rajendran of executing the demolition for social media publicity and “reels” while ignoring their livelihood struggles.

According to the protesting merchants, the new market building constructed under the Smart City initiative—costing over Rs 100 crore—is poorly designed and lacks basic facilities like proper ventilation and adequate space. Merchants claim that conducting business inside the new building is practically impossible, resulting in a drop in sales of over 50 percent, which forced them to set up temporary tin-sheet stalls outside to survive.

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The vendors highlighted that they have cooperated with the city’s development projects for generations but are now being treated unfairly. They challenged the Mayor to show the same determination in clearing illegal encroachments at Chala Market, where drain blockages cause severe flooding, rather than targeting the vulnerable traders at Palayam Market who pay heavy monthly rents and fees to the corporation.