JOIN USAvenue Road traders are heaving a sigh of relief. Hawkers who had encroached upon the footpaths and roads are finally being removed by the traffic police personnel from the Chickpet station.
Traders said that from October 21, around five to 10 traffic policemen have been inspecting the bustling road and instructing the hawkers to vacate the place.
“For more than a decade, traders, customers, pedestrians as well as motorists are facing problems from hawkers. While customers don't have place to stand on footpath, motorists have to struggle to pass the narrow lane as roads too have been encroached upon by a few hawkers,” K Ramachandra, a trader.
There are more than 100 hawkers on Avenue Road and about 90 per cent of them had been cleared two days ago, police maintained. Efforts are on to vacate a few hawkers who return. “We have told the hawkers to go to K R Market.
We will continue the drive until the lane is cleared. There are allegations that a few police personnel are hand in glove with the hawkers and it is true. We do not know how long the road would be free from hawkers’ menace but we are trying our best to drive them away,” said a traffic police official.
It is the duty of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to see that there are no encroachments taking place on footpaths but they have not taken any action, the official added. Mahavir, a trader in cosmetics and decorative items rued he had been abused by hawkers on several occasions.
“I get bulk orders regularly from my customers. While moving out the items from my shop for delivery, hawkers hurl abuses at me and my staff. Now, the situation is much better as the footpath is clear," he added. Some traders said that on October 25 some hawkers started coming back.
The 1.1 km stretch houses more than 200 retail and wholesale shops.
BBMP joint commissioner (West Zone), Laxminarasimhaiah, told Deccan Herald that he had discussed encroachment issue with the higher officials in recent meetings. “I have instructed my staff to get details such as the extent of space encroached upon, number of hawkers occupying footpath among others. Once I get the report, I will take action,” he added.