The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated anti-encroachment drives in the markets of the city, including New Market, Malviya Nagar shopping complex and others. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, Municipal Commissioner Harendra Narayan said “City markets will soon get hassle-free walkways and galleries, facilitating better movement of commuters and shoppers.” As per the Municipal Commissioner, in the recent meetings with the zonal officers of the city, the civic body has made extensive plans for developing smooth walkways for facilitating smooth pedestrian movement in the markets of the city. “We have had extensive deliberations with the ward in charges and zone officers for turning the project into reality.

 

At the first stage of the plan, we are trying to ensure proper movement of shoppers in the markets of the city by removing the extended corridors of the shops,” he said. Ironically, the encroachments in the city have began to reappear in the markets. One such drive was initiated in the New Market on Saturday. But on Sunday, the hawkers and vendors thronged the market place in large numbers. Making the conditions same as before. Reacting to the same, the Commissioner assured that he will be taking a note of the matter and will be visiting the site, thus ensuring the proper implementation of the plan as devised.

 

“As far as the re-emergence of encroachments is concerned, it is seen that they include hawkers and vendors with no permanent place of operating business who will be removed from the places by the procedure of spot fines further,” he emphasised. Significantly, when ‘The Hitavada’ talked to hawkers and vendors of the city, they demanded land from the corporation. Among them, a middle aged hawker said, “I am the sole bread earner of the family. I have to work for a living to keep the stove fire burning. If the Nagar Nigam (BMC) is removing us, they should provide us with an alternative land so that we can sustain.” This was also reiterated by various other vendors of the city.