Kolkata: No new hawker will be given vending rights in stations with high footfall, Eastern Railway’s Sealdah division has decided. Stations with relatively lower footfall may be allowed to accommodate a drinking water stall or two, but vendors will not be issued selling licences for platforms of congested stations any more, sources said.The Railways has been on eviction drives at Sealdah, Howrah, Dum Dum, Park Circus, Jadavpur and other suburban stations since the third week of May. The endeavour to clear stations and platforms of stalls has led to the demolition of hundreds of structures — around 150 stalls were demolished at Park Circus station alone. Payloaders were ferried to the spots on freight wagons. Hawkers seemed to be caught off guard as railway staff used megaphones and asked them to disperse, and demolitions were carried out through the night.Sources said no new vendor will be allowed in heavy-footfall and interchange stations. “The platforms are meant for passengers. But they trip over hawkers to board or disembark from trains. We are aware the matter is being heard in court. We empathise with the hawkers and have no intention of leaving them in the lurch. But the authorities will not compromise with passenger safety,” an official said.On Thursday, Sealdah division officials will conduct an inspection at Park Circus station where platforms have recently been freed from illegal vendors. “The inspection is necessary for setting up a new booking office, shades, new lighting and a new approach road,” an official said.Platforms 15-21 at Sealdah South station, which cater to suburban passengers, will be completely free of vendors, he said.The primary focus of Railways is development. The Sealdah division intends to build foot overbridges at 40 stations but has not been able to start work for lack of site, mostly occupied by hawkers. All these projects have been conceived by ER GM Milind Deouskar.DRM, Sealdah, Rajeev Saxena said, “Soon, an airport-style toilet complex will be built at Sealdah station. Also, mail/express trains will have a separate entry from platforms 9-13 at Sealdah. A lift has been installed at Kalyani, which has undergone a complete makeover. Platforms at the station will be extended to accommodate 24-coach local trains.”
