CHENNAI: The Madras high court may have directed authorities to ensure NSC Bose Road in Parry’s remains a ‘no hawking’ zone, but vendors continue to reign supreme, clogging traffic and reducing space for pedestrians.
On Wednesday, 50 hawkers on tricycles took over a part of NSC Bose Road and Rattan Bazaar and slowed down motorists. A few other hawkers gobbled up the pavement, causing untold miseries for pedestrians amid the rain. A section of hawkers were found without face masks. The encroachment has become regular feature since the city’s commercial nerve centre reopened for the public.
This has had an adverse impact, compromising social distancing norms as people have little space to walk on platform and streets branching out of NSC Bose Road. Also, haphazard parking by two-wheelers adds to the congestion, affecting the smooth flow of vehicles. The encroachment is the vicinity of the Flower Bazaar police station.
A V S Marimuthu, co-convenor of North Chennai People Rights Federation, said the corporation and police should carry ot regular drives to remove encroachments. “Continuous enforcement at least for a month alone can end the menace.”
The Flower Bazaar police say they act against hawkers frequently. “We book 20 cases against hawkers every day. Still, they are back to square one,” an officer said. Action, including confiscating commodities sold by hawkers, was being initiated along with corporation officers, he said. Officials of the corporation’s zone V, under whose jurisdiction NSC Bose Road comes, could not be reached for comment.
On Wednesday, 50 hawkers on tricycles took over a part of NSC Bose Road and Rattan Bazaar and slowed down motorists. A few other hawkers gobbled up the pavement, causing untold miseries for pedestrians amid the rain. A section of hawkers were found without face masks. The encroachment has become regular feature since the city’s commercial nerve centre reopened for the public.
This has had an adverse impact, compromising social distancing norms as people have little space to walk on platform and streets branching out of NSC Bose Road. Also, haphazard parking by two-wheelers adds to the congestion, affecting the smooth flow of vehicles. The encroachment is the vicinity of the Flower Bazaar police station.
A V S Marimuthu, co-convenor of North Chennai People Rights Federation, said the corporation and police should carry ot regular drives to remove encroachments. “Continuous enforcement at least for a month alone can end the menace.”
The Flower Bazaar police say they act against hawkers frequently. “We book 20 cases against hawkers every day. Still, they are back to square one,” an officer said. Action, including confiscating commodities sold by hawkers, was being initiated along with corporation officers, he said. Officials of the corporation’s zone V, under whose jurisdiction NSC Bose Road comes, could not be reached for comment.
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Get the app