Hawker Turf War Erupts on Kolkata's JL Nehru Road, Disrupting Traffic Flow
In a striking scene on Tuesday evening, Kolkata's JL Nehru Road witnessed a significant disruption as food vendors with carts lined up in the middle of the thoroughfare, directly in front of the Oberoi Grand hotel. The vendors, selling popular street snacks like roasted corn or bhutta, jhalmuri, dal pakoda, green coconut, masala chana, and ice creams, occupied a portion of the second lane on the south-bound flank, leaving only the extreme left lane free for vehicles.
Vendors Displaced by Apparel Hawkers, Forced into Road Lanes
The reason behind this unusual occupation became clear when the vendors revealed they had been driven away by hawkers selling apparel at the Grand Arcade walkway. Initially, they had attempted to set up their carts along the edge of the road next to the pavement, but were met with resistance. "The hawkers use the extreme left lane for goods vehicles that come to replenish stocks of hawkers operating in the Grand Arcade. They will not let us do business there," explained an ice-cream vendor. He added that despite police efforts to drive them away in the past two days, they continue to return due to brisk business from the high footfall in the area.
Grand Hotel's Closure Exacerbates Hawker Encroachment
Compounding the issue, the Grand Hotel has been shut for two years as it undergoes a major upgrade. This has led to vendors occupying even the section of Chowringhee before the hotel's entry and exit points. A security guard posted at the hotel entrance noted, "When vehicles arrive with construction material, the vendors make way and return thereafter." The hotel is now hemmed in by hawkers on all four sides, with encroachments on Chowringhee Place, Bertram Street, and Humayun Place, as conceded by a civic official.
Civic and Police Action Intensifies Amid Hawker Proliferation
The civic authorities have alerted police about a sharp increase in the number of hawkers around the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters. They have urged constant vigilance and timely eviction actions against new hawkers. "We alerted New Market police station cops and asked them to conduct rounds every evening as fresh hawkers are taking over the pedestrian lane," said the civic official, who is also a member of the Town Vending Committee.
Union Leader Advocates for Lawful Hawking to Prevent Evictions
Saktiman Ghosh, a hawker union leader and Town Vending Committee member, acknowledged the ongoing struggle for hawkers' rights but emphasized the importance of lawful hawking. "I am in favour of lawful hawking, as that would go a long way to protect hawkers from eviction," he stated. He suggested that if necessary, they may identify hawkers flouting rules and streamline hawking practices to benefit those who abide by regulations.
This situation highlights the complex dynamics of street vending in Kolkata, where competition for prime spots leads to traffic disruptions and necessitates coordinated efforts from authorities to maintain order while supporting vendors' livelihoods.
