Erode Corporation’s Smart City commercial complexes lie mostly vacant despite heavy investment
मुख्य बातें
- •The Erode Corporation has invested over ₹152 crore in four commercial complexes under the Smart Cities Mission.
- •All complexes face severe underutilization, with occupancy rates as low as 5% in some cases.
- •Repeated tender processes and rent reductions have failed to attract tenants due to high deposit requirements.
- •A fresh auction is planned for June 2026 after earlier efforts drew little response.
Several high-value commercial complexes constructed in Erode under the Smart Cities Mission have struggled to attract tenants, leaving most shops vacant and causing substantial revenue loss for the civic body. Despite repeated tender processes and rent reductions, occupancy levels remain critically low across multiple facilities built at a total cost exceeding ₹152 crore.
The most prominent among these is the commercial complex on Gandhiji Road, constructed at a cost of ₹24.94 crore and inaugurated in August 2022 by former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The complex features 65 shops, a supermarket space, eateries, a children’s play area, and parking. However, only the parking facilities are currently in use, while the majority of retail and commercial spaces remain unoccupied. The Erode Corporation reduced rents by 25% and floated five tenders, but occupancy remains minimal. A public invitation for participation in March 2026 also failed to draw sufficient interest.
