Chennai Extends Trade Licence Renewal Deadline Due to Election Delays
Chennai Corporation has granted an extension for renewing trade licences in the city, aiming to prevent potential licence lapses. Over 19% of traders, totaling 13,774 individuals, faced the risk of losing their licences after June 1 due to delays caused by the Lok Sabha elections.
The deadline for renewal has been extended to May 31, following appeals from traders affected by election-related disruptions. Despite efforts to facilitate online renewal through the Chennai Corporation portal, a significant number of traders have yet to renew their licences.
As of May 13, 58,341 traders have successfully renewed their licences out of the total 72,115. The Corporation, responsible for issuing licences across 575 trade categories, has collected ₹17 crore in fees this year. Notably, eateries represent the largest trade segment, with approximately 7,000 establishments.
Concerns persist as thousands of traders have ceased operations in recent years, with Royapuram zone reporting the highest number of lapsed licences this year.
