Kolkata: Following instructions to clear encroachment from pavements, hawkers and street vendors across the IT hub of Sector V are removing temporary structures and tarpaulin to free up almost two-thirds of the space. Since Saturday, street vendors on several stretches of Sector V have been removing the temporary structures made of bamboo and plastic to allow pedestrians space to walk. “The hawkers were earlier instructed to free up at least two-thirds of the space they had encroached upon. Many of them have started clearing the encroachment,” said an official of Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority (NDITA).In many places, chairs and tables for patrons of road-side eateries are also being removed. In adjacent Salt Lake, vendors who used to conduct business from unauthorised makeshift stalls on pavements are also moving out on their own, like those outside FD park. A platform in front of a shop near City Centre 1, where vendors used to sell tea and fast food, has also been removed.“Pavements are for walking. The govt has taken a strong stance that pavements must be cleared of encroachment to make space for their original purpose,” a govt functionary said.Those from the IT industry are welcoming the development, saying that the IT hub should look clean and beautiful. “Sector V has been a model IT township and it should definitely look clean and developed to bring an aesthetic look devoid of encroachments. At the same time, it will help the working professionals have access to low-cost food if the vendors and hawkers are rehabilitated by developing street corners at specific locations,” said Sector V stakeholders association vice-president Kalyan Kar.
