The city has four markets; vendors continue to struggle
Lack of facilities hits trade in Chikkaballapur
The major centre for business in the district, other than Chintamani, is the district centre, Chikkaballapur.
This status, however, is not justified. The city has markets in three to four places, yet there are no good facilities in any of the markets.
Vegetable and fruit vendors do not have separate stores or stalls and have to manage crammed in congested spaces. Also, they have to adjust to the lack of hygiene in the markets.
Four centres
Santhe Market is the central business area in Chikkaballapur city. A little away is Bazaar Road, where food grains and other necessary items are sold. There is another market at the City Municipal Council Circle, although business is run here only between 7 am and 9 am.
The three markets are all situated on one side of Chikkaballapur city. On the other side, on MG Road, is the APMC market, where heavy business is carried out on Wednesday and Saturday.
Santhe Market
There are small stores on either sides of the road near Santhe Market and the footpath is situated in front of these stores. Due to lack of space, however, most vendors sit use the footpath, and, under extreme circumstances of space shortage, even the road in front, to carry out business, selling fruits and vegetables.
They are surrounded on all sides by the dustbin, fish sellers and poultry market.
Although they make the best of whatever little space they get on the narrow streets, the vendors still have to make way every hour or so for vehicles carrying supplies. Rain or shine, they have to be ready for anything.
There is also the perpetual fear of the police, who start clearance work out of the blue.
Handling small troubles and problems, they focus on carrying out their job.
Bazaar Road
While the vegetable and fruit vendors use the Santhe Market Road, Bazaar Road is the centre for sale of food grain and daily requirements.
A common feature, however, is the narrowness of the streets that pass through the important markets. Any vehicle that drives down either of the roads leads to a minor traffic jam.
One example is that of the lorries and other supply vehicles that use the roads in broad daylight, creating problems for both pedestrians and vehicle drivers.
‘Morning market’
The vendors at the CMC Circle market, popularly called the morning market, were given newly-constructed stores recently. If asked about moving there, the vendors come up with a dozen different answers.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Mohammad, a vendor complained the new stores did not have appropriate facilities for them. “The customers do not come to the new stores. How will we benefit from the stores then?” he asked.
The sellers add that a three-storey building is being constructed for the benefit of the vendors on Santhe Market road. “We are not sure which of us will get to use it. All we demand is a clean place to run the market,” they said and requested the officers and elected representatives to try solving the problems of the vendors.
