The move of the city police to consider a ban on the entry of private vehicles into S.M. Street, as part of measures to help pedestrians, has kindled strong protest from merchants in the area.
Traders claim the street offers ample parking space for around 100 vehicles at a time in four different locations and the restriction on the entry of vehicles will drive away customers.
Merchants’ association leaders say the restrictions will affect their income and dislocate them from the area.
Instead of preventing the entry of vehicles, the police should try to find more parking lots on the street and ensure their optimal use, the traders demand.
Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti general secretary Ashraf Moothedam says the police move will not have the support of traders. “We have sufficient space on the street to accommodate customers’ vehicles. The new rule will only adversely affect the traders and their income,” he says.
Mr. Ashraf adds that the traders are planning to take out a march to the Police Commissioner’s office to express their opposition. “We will also approach the district administration to communicate our concerns,” he says.
Walking street
Meanwhile, police officers confirm that the department has no plan to enforce the ban without seeking the opinion of local bodies and the district administration. The proposal was considered as it would aid the district administration’s plan to convert the area into a ‘walking street’, they say.
The walking street project, proposed under the heritage city plan, had won the support of various environmental forums and consumer associations. The associations had pointed out that the realisation of the proposal would easily create more space on the street and offer better security to pedestrians.
Shanil Kumar, a bank employee, says most shops on the street do not have separate parking spaces and it compels buyers to park their vehicles along the road, obstructing the movement of pedestrians. The curbs on vehicles imposed by the police during festival seasons have been found effective, and they should be made permanent, taking into account the plight of pedestrians, he adds.
