A group of hawkers has turned the footpath of the Manachanallur Main Road into a veritable market for vegetables, plantain leaves, coconuts, flowers and beetle leaves.
At least 80 vendors have crowded the sparse space on the already congested and narrow road. In the process, they not only endure the ordeal of being subjected to incessant dust pollution but also allow their goods to be polluted.
Pedestrians have to take extra care to avoid stamping their foot on the vegetables and save themselves from the stream of heavy vehicles passing through the busy road. The one-way traffic system on the road testifies to the huge traffic volume on the road. What is surprising is that though the town panchayat has constructed a market in the vicinity, the merchants prefer to operate from the pavement. “Though there are scores of shops in the market, it does not have adequate amenities. Further, the entrance to the market is too narrow for the entry and exit of vehicles with vegetables or coconuts,” traders said.
The traders point out that the market had been ill-designed and does not cater to the needs of the merchants. They want the town panchayat to build a more spacious building.
Vendors say that customers too prefer to make quick purchases on the roadside. The town panchayat had constructed about 40 shops.
“Although a few traders had hired the shops for a monthly rent of Rs.375, they use it as a godown for stocking vegetables,” traders say.
Pavement shops pose a threat to both the road-users and vendors, says C.Rajendrakumar, a resident. Action should be taken to accommodate them in a more spacious building with basic amenities, he adds.
