Police shelve plan after six-hour shutdown by shopkeepers on south Bangalore’s commercial hub
Hundreds of traders on D.V. Gundappa Road in Basavangudi downed their shutters for over six hours on Tuesday protesting against the sudden decision of the traffic police to make the entire stretch one-way.
The protesters, led by Basavangudi Shop Owners’ Association president T.S. Saravana, said the move would not only hurt their business, but will also inconvenience the public.
Following the protest, the police said they have shelved the plan for the time being
A few months ago, the traffic police had turned the 1.5-km stretch from the Nettakallappa Circle till the Mallikarjuna temple into one-way, but relented following a request from the association.
‘Politically motivated’
Alleging that the sudden turnaround was politically motivated, Mr. Saravana said the fact that the move to “harass” both traders as well as shoppers came during the festive season was highly suspicious.
DVG Road, with its 50-metre width, walkable footpaths and space for parking on one side even with two-way traffic is a popular commercial hub for south Bangaloreans.
“We have withdrawn the decision to convert the road into one-way till the end of Deepavali. A decision will be taken after holding discussions with the public. Our concern is public safety, but we faced opposition from shopkeepers who fear their business will be affected,” said a Basavangudi police officer.
Keywords: DVG Road, Bangalore traders shutdown
A road meant for residential buildings and houses have been converted
to totally commercial, trading and footpath and vendor related activities. Till 30 years back BTS-now BMTC buses used to ply on this
road both ways, helping the bus users. Today shops, business
establishment have grabbed the road, footpath and the by lanes for
their personal use, used the total stretch of for parking their
vehicles, displaying their wares , used the road for dumping waste and
dirt from shops etc, making the life of pedestrians miserable. All
this is thanks to Commercial establishments, shops etc who are bribed
the BBMP to get the entire stretch of road for their personal use. Now
to check this menace of grab and harassing the road users and
pedestrians is by boycotting these shops etc.
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