In a decisive move to tackle persistent hawker encroachment, the Kolkata municipal authorities have installed permanent iron fences around Jadubabur Bazar in Bhowanipore. This action comes after repeated attempts to regulate approximately 25 vegetable and fruit sellers who consistently violated demarcated business areas.
Traffic Chaos on Paddapukur Road
The situation had reached a critical point on the 120-foot busy stretch of Paddapukur Road adjacent to the century-old market. Hawkers had extensively encroached upon this vital thoroughfare, creating severe traffic disruptions throughout the day.
"It's a one-way stretch but there was always a long queue of eastbound vehicles from Asutosh Mukherjee Road during morning and evening peak hours," reported a traffic sergeant assigned to the area. The congestion had become a daily nightmare for commuters and residents alike.
Failed Attempts and Final Solution
Local administration had made multiple efforts to resolve the encroachment issue through peaceful means. White demarcation lines were drawn several times to define legitimate hawking zones, but sellers repeatedly crossed these boundaries.
"The errant sellers had recently started occupying almost half the road, leaving very little space for vehicles, even ambulances, to manoeuvre," explained Ashim Basu, local councillor and MMiC of the state urban employment scheme. The situation had become so dire that emergency vehicles struggled to navigate through the area.
Faced with continuous non-compliance, authorities determined that installing permanent iron fences represented the only viable long-term solution. The heavy blue-and-white iron grilles resemble those commonly used on Kolkata pavements to prevent pedestrians from stepping onto roads.
Community Response and Future Measures
The installation has already shown positive results according to area commuters. "It's a helpful initiative," said Prakash Agarwal, who operates a CA firm nearby. "Driving to office in the morning used to be difficult. Now, the situation has improved significantly."
Councillor Basu revealed additional plans for the area, noting that during major examinations like Madhyamik and Higher Secondary, the administration will launch special hawker-pushback drives to ensure clear roads for students traveling to examination centers.
Following the fence installation, the 15-foot width of the blacktop now remains clear for smooth traffic movement. However, local resident Prasun Kanti Mukherjee emphasized the need for ongoing vigilance, reporting that "some hawkers were found displaying fruits and vegetables over these fences."
The permanent infrastructure represents Kolkata's latest effort to balance the needs of street vendors with urban mobility requirements, ensuring that both commerce and transportation can coexist without compromising public safety.
