The Chennai City Police have evicted hawkers operating from Flower Bazaar Police Station to Malaya Perumal Street, George Town, and have facilitated a parking slot for two-wheelers.
The George Town All Merchant Welfare Association has however expressed the view that the move by the police has not been effective in clearing encroachments. The Association says that hawkers and vendors have returned.
The police action followed a directive issued by the Madras High Court in 2012 to the Chennai Corporation and the Chennai City Police and Chennai Corporation to clear encroachments and create a non-hawking zone on N S C Bose Road. This year, the hawkers filed a counter petition against the directive seeking an alternative resettlement in Broadway. The petition has been quashed by the Madras HC.
“The Chennai City Police (CCP) has evicted the hawkers and vendors, for formality’s sake. The hawkers and vendors have come back, and set up their wares on NSC Bose Road, Godown Street, Bunder Street, Badrian Street, Malayaperumal Street, Stringer Street, and Umberson Street,” say the George Town merchants.
The merchants have pointed out that the hawkers have put up stalls near their shops, making commuting difficult for pedestrians, and causing traffic pile-ups.
“The CCP must vacate the hawkers from these thoroughfares. Otherwise, we will forward complaint petitions to the Chief Minister’s Cell, the Commissioner of Police, and the Mayor of Chennai Corporation,” the merchants said.
