JOIN USBusiness on the roads
Bangalore has increasingly become a hub for street vendors, whether big or small. In fact, many streets are filled with vendors, who are keen to market their products as much as they can. With the BBMP keeping a watch on vendors on the pavements, these vendors try to make most of their business at traffic signals. With this come a number of problems. Citizens share their woes about these vendors on the move.
Vendors who run into the traffic once the vehicles stop at a signal can often be a nuisance. “They run around in traffic, nudging you and even touching your kids, if you have them on your bikes. They think it is a good way to get a customer. The worst part is some of them bring items which are enticing to the kids — the little ones sometimes start a ruckus in the middle of the road. And not to forget the traffic blocks they cause sometimes. Vendors should stick to proper venues and shops,” voices Prathyush Gargi, an IT professional. He also points out that two-wheeler riders have to be careful that the vendors don’t snatch something from them and run.
Vendors, who step on to the roads at signals, also cause traffic jams. Chaithra M, a quality mentor, says, “They come so close to you if you are on a two-wheeler that one’s concentration on the road gets affected. Also, there have been instances when vehicles have almost hit them, which would cause problems for both them and the person riding or driving.”
There are others who believe that these vendors are not a menace and should be allowed to go about their business. A resident of Thyagarajanagar, KR Road, Ashwini Anand agrees that she sees vendors running around at all major junctions. “They carry colourful items which could distract the passersby and the motorists, further leading to confusion on the road. But unlike others, I don’t feel wary about them. They just ask once or twice and if I’m not interested, they move on to the next prospective customer.”
Ashwini adds that the best way to get rid of this situation is for the government to take initiatives to link these sellers to different brands or places that would sell their items.
Adithya Bharadwaj, an engineering student, says that most vendors avoid traffic when the vehicles start moving. “It’s because these vendors don’t have a place to sell that they come on the roads. If there is a regulation on this too, it would affect their bread and butter,” says Adithya. He understands that there could be all sorts of people as vendors and adds, “The local dealers who send these vendors on the street should do a basic screening of them. There could be some internal licences that could be issued to identify them too.”
Ask the authorities about vendors at traffic junctions and B Dayananda, additional commissioner of police (traffic), comments, “When these sellers are causing traffic obstruction or a menace, they are penalised according to the Karnataka Police Act 92 with an amount of Rs 100 per offence.” When asked if there are any extra measures to watch over these sellers, Dayananda replies that they have not deployed officials to watch over this issue. He adds, “These vendors who were earlier on the pavements and sidewalks have no place to sell anymore, which is why one can see them on the roads now.”