Kolkata: Effective steps would be taken to clear encroachments from carriageways in and around New Market, said state urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul during an unannounced visit to Lindsay Street on Saturday.Expressing her dismay over the encroached roads and pavements around New Market, Paul said, “We are not responsible for the hawker excess in New Market and other landmark markets in the city. It is high time rampant hawking was streamlined to ensure better footfall at these markets.”Paul also expressed her displeasure at unauthorised parking in the central business district as she spotted several cars on Lindsay Street that appeared to be parked illegally.
CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates
“You have kept your car in a no-parking area, don’t forget police will impose a penalty the next time,” Paul told a motorist. But people are not really left with any other option as the space, marked for parking, is taken over by hawkers. Multiple rows of hawkers occupy more than half the road space of Bertram Street, including the parking lot. The scene is similar at Humayun Place.Paul also reminded vendors and traders of their responsibility to keep the area garbage free. She spotted plastic waste and asked owners of adjacent stalls not to litter.Traders of New Market welcomed the minister’s stand but pointed out that the scene returned to usual after every such visit by VVIPs. “Police were seen actively removing encroachments before the minister’s arrival but after she left, hawkers returned in droves,” complained a trader. He pointed out that the streets around New Market were freed of encroachments ahead of chief minister Suvendu Adhikari’s visit to the KMC headquarters on June 16 but the very next day, hawkers returned in droves, taking over their spots on roads and pavements.After the CM’s diktat, the civic brass asked police to keep a watch on the area and to conduct regular drives to remove illegal encroachments. “Police do conduct raids from time to time but we need a comprehensive drive. We will set a deadline for New Market hawkers before launching the drive,” said a KMC official.
