Shops at Nehru Market sell more than tarpaulins: they make tents, car covers and garden shade nets, while industrial machinery parts are sold nearby. Traders say online shopping and growing competition are changing demand.
Nehru Market, on Sydenhams Road in Chennai’s Periamet area, is known for its tarpaulin and protective-cover shops. Business picks up before the monsoon, but the market remains active throughout the year because the material is used to cover machinery, goods and vehicles.
The range extends well beyond conventional tarpaulins. Shops sell camping tents, cotton canvas covers, car covers, durable bags and green shade nets for gardens. Some products are made to order; traders say many wholesale shops have an attached tailor. Nearby Anna Market specialises in metal goods, including large spare parts for industrial machinery. The close connection between the markets draws customers looking for both parts and equipment covers.
Some of the traders’ history is tied to Moore Market. After a fire there in the 1980s, sellers moved to spaces allocated to them around the city. Anil Kumar of Prakash Trading Company now runs the shop his father, Narayan Jha, opened more than 50 years ago.
Kumar says walk-in sales have declined as online shopping changes how customers buy. Factories and transporters remain regular clients, he says, while tents, shade nets and car covers continue to attract cost-conscious shoppers. The report also notes competition from sellers on Walltax Road and nearby streets.