Vendors demand hawking zone

BBMP had recently evicted them from Gandhinagar

The BBMP had last month cleared an entire street in Gandhinagar, a place chosen on pilot basis. The implementation of the policy saw hundreds of street side vendors displaced. Angered by their displacement and loss of daily earnings, the vendors on Thursday protested in front of the BBMP premises demanding a separate hawking zone in Gandhinagar.

“The vendors have appealed for a separate hawking zone and BBMP will look into it,” said a BBMP official. But, as an immediate relief the Palike doesn’t have any option but to displace them from the area. Officials state that the BBMP is yet to identify a space for such a purpose. Gandhinagar, being one of the busiest and most crowded portions of the City, is unlikely to have such a vacant space for a hawking zone, said officials. Gandhinagar was primarily chosen for its busy floating population that litters tons of garbage everyday. However, with the implementation of this policy across the City, the BBMP will also have to tackle displacement of hundreds of street side vendors.
The ‘Zero-Garbage’ policy is currently proposed along K G Road, Gubbi Thontadappa Road, Station Road, Seshadri Road, Maharani College Road and Palace Road. Sanitary workers have also been appointed in the areas to work in three shifts and for each shift, there will be a distinct uniform.