Kolkata Hawkers Expand to Barricaded Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Igniting Conflict
In a bold move, a section of hawkers in Kolkata, having previously occupied Bertram Street and Humayun Place, have now shifted their focus to a portion of Jawaharlal Nehru Road. This area, located in front of the Oberoi Grand hotel, was barricaded by police specifically for pedestrian movement, but has become the latest target for unauthorized vending activities.
Gradual Takeover Sparks Public Outcry
According to Mithu Banerjee, a regular shopper at Grand Arcade, the encroachment on this barricaded section began subtly about a month ago. "Initially, just half a dozen food vendors were seen competing for space," Banerjee explained. "After playing a hide-and-seek game with the police, the number of hawkers has multiplied significantly due to a lack of proper vigilance. Pedestrians have been left struggling to navigate the area."
Recent visits by a TOI team to this central Kolkata shopping hub revealed that unauthorized hawkers have taken over approximately half of the road space on Jawaharlal Nehru Road. Additionally, on both Bertram Street and Humayun Place, where car parking spaces had been previously cleared for vehicles, hawkers have made a daring comeback, reclaiming these areas for their stalls.
Hawker Committee Leader Expresses Disappointment
Saktiman Ghosh, the chief of the Hawker Sangram Committee, expressed his dismay at the illegal grabbing of prime space by some hawkers. "While I advocate for hawking rights, I was genuinely surprised to see hawkers desperately returning to spaces from which they had been evicted," Ghosh stated. "We are not taking this lightly and may need to take timely and appropriate action. We cannot remain passive while streets are filled with unwanted hawkers."
Ghosh emphasized that parking spaces on Bertram Street and Humayun Place should always remain free for car owners. He further warned that unless police remove sellers who have forcibly set up stalls on roads in and around New Market within a specified timeframe, members of his union will take to the streets in protest. This action would violate the Town Vending Committee (TVC) order, which regulates hawking activities in the area.
Authorities and Traders Respond to the Crisis
A Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) official acknowledged that efforts are being made, in collaboration with the police, to maintain continuous vigilance over the New Market hawking hub. "We must adhere to the Town Vending Committee order and closely monitor the roads in and around New Market," the official said.
However, traders from SS Hogg Market remain skeptical of the authorities' promises. Ashok Gupta, president of the traders' body, voiced his concerns: "Despite assurances from civic leaders, encroachment has increased in recent months. If this situation persists, we will be forced to launch a larger movement to protect our interests."
The standoff highlights ongoing tensions between hawkers seeking livelihood opportunities, authorities tasked with maintaining order, and traders affected by the encroachments. As the situation escalates, all parties are watching closely, with potential protests looming if a resolution is not reached promptly.
