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Friday, March 29 2024
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Bengaluru

Street vendors in Jogupalya refuse to move to new market

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Bengaluru: There is a clear direction from the High Court to the authorities concerned to ensure that footpaths are meant for pedestrians and certainly not for any other purpose. However, the authorities concerned (BBMP and Traffic Police) continue to ignore the brazen encroachment of footpaths on Jogupalya Main Road.

The Main Road of Jogupalya is one of the congested roads in the city. Though the density of vehicles on this road has increased considerably, the width of the road remains same even after decades. As if it is not enough, the vendors of vegetables, fruits and flowers occupy the footpaths thus leaving hardly any space for pedestrians to walk on these footpaths.

With the vendors converting the footpaths as vending zones, the pedestrians have no option than walking on the road thus becoming vulnerable to road accidents. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) authorities are aware of this nuisance, but not making sincere efforts to clear the encroachment of the footpaths due to reasons best known to them. “The vendors had occupied the footpaths long ago but nothing has been done to clear the encroachments. With the vendors occupying most of the space (including the road), commuting on this road becomes tough during the peak hours. I want the authorities concerned to take suitable measures to ensure footpaths for pedestrians,’’ said Govindaswamy N, a resident of Jogupalya.

When contacted, Ulsoor traffic police inspector said that measures would be taken to clear the encroachment of footpaths, if complaints are received from the public. “We have not received any complaint till date,’’ the traffic police inspector said.

According to BBMP sources, the civic body had constructed a market by spending lakhs of rupees to relocate the vendors but the latter did not agree to shift to the new market more than a decade ago. The new market on 1st cross can accommodate around 70 vendors. With no vendor ready to shift to the new market, the premises have been converted into an open toilet by some lazy people. One has to search for a hanky to protect nostrils from the bad odour emanating from this ‘new’ market premises. “There will be no safety at the new market. There is no guarantee of customers coming to the new market to buy vegetables,’’ said Muthulakshmi S, a vegetable vendor.

When contacted, Gautham Kumar, corporator, Jogupalya ward, said that he had already tried his best to convince the vendors to shift to the new market, but in vain. “The BBMP has many plans for the development of Jogupalya, including the widening of the main road. It will take some time,’’ Kumar said.

Meanwhile, a BBMP revenue official, on a condition of anonymity, said that the BBMP had already issued notices to the vendors advising them to shift to the new market premises. “As of now, the vendors are doing business without paying any rent to the BBMP. If they shift their business to the new market, they will have to pay a nominal rent for using the market premises,’’ the revenue official said.

Street vendors in Jogupalya refuse to move to new market
Street vendors in Jogupalya refuse to move to new market
Street vendors in Jogupalya refuse to move to new market

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