Ranchi: Business operations at Kutchery Road’s Atal Smriti Vendor Market came to a standstill after its 478 shopkeepers staged a protest against the Ranchi Municipal Corporation’s (RMC) reshuffling order on Wednesday.Vendors opposed the proposed reallocation of shops, stating that it would disrupt businesses that operated at the site for the past seven years. The Atal Smriti Vendor Market, developed at an estimated cost of Rs 54 crore, was designed to rehabilitate roadside vendors and decongest city streets. The multi-category market accommodates garment sellers, footwear traders, accessory outlets, stationery shops, and other small businesses. Vendors currently pay Rs 500 per month as maintenance charges.
According to traders, around 70 vacant shops were recently allotted, allegedly without a transparent lottery process, triggering resentment among existing occupants. “Our garment shop has been here for seven years. Customers identify us by our location. If we are shifted now, it will directly affect our income. We are not against improvements, but decisions must be transparent and fair,” said Ravi Singh, a garment vendor.Raju Yadav, who runs a footwear shop, said reshuffling would only redistribute losses. “Instead of reshuffling, the sitting arrangement should be improved to ensure equal opportunity,” he said.Sita Devi, another vendor, said stability was essential for small traders. “We built our livelihood here over the years. Sudden relocation disturbs our customer base and daily earnings,” she said.Responding to the allegations, RMC administrator Sushant Gaurav said the process was conducted transparently. “All procedures were followed in a fair manner. The lottery system is completely random, and no priority or preference was given to anyone. The allegations are baseless,” he said. Gaurav further added that once the tenure period ends, conducting a re-lottery is part of the corporation’s mandate under existing regulations and is carried out as per prescribed rules.Vendors, however, continue to demand clarity and a review of the reshuffling order to ensure business continuity. The shops at Atal Smriti Vendor Market were originally allotted in 2019 under a three-year agreement.However, after the tenure ended, vendors continued operating amid uncertainty, allegedly due to the non-constitution of the town vending committee, which delayed further decisions on renewal and regulation.
