Weekly shandies, which help rural people to buy and sell essential commodities is popular in urban areas too, with vendors occupying vantage points and spreading their shops, selling fresh vegetables and fruits.
But, along with advantages, there are disadvantages too — causing inconvenience to the public and vehicular traffic.
Although several shops have mushroomed even in new localities of the city, affecting business in the shandy, people like to do their weekend shopping in shandies, hoping to get commodities at lesser prices.
Shandies are the place for the farmers to sell their produce, but now the weekly markets are dominated by vendors from the city itself.
As there is no particular place to hold shandies, both sellers and buyers are inconvenienced as business is carried on narrow roads.
In Hassan city, a shandy is held on Tuesdays on the railway station premises on both sides of the road and the problems posed by it are numerous.
Bus stop
There is also a bus stop at the place where the shandy is held. Congested place, heavy flow of vehicular traffic, arrival of thousands of people in trains, all add to the misery of the shoppers and vendors.
The road in front of the Women’s College is wide and is an apt place for holding the weekly market, opine locals. As it was difficult for those using the road, a rule was made directing vendors to do business on only one side of the road. So, the market extended up to M G Road and there was a little relief to vehicle users.
Back to old system
But, the arrangement was shortlived. The old system resumed, extending towards H S Prakash road as the college authorities were against spreading shops in front of their college. Students of the Government Arts and Science College are facing problems, they said.
The elected representatives should intervene and see to it that the public are not affected due to footpath vendors occupying the road, opine residents.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks