No solution in sight for relocating fruit vendors

Charminar: Providing alternative space for the ousted pavement vendors and hawkers has become a pain in the neck for the civic authorities and police officials since they are unable to find an amicable solution to this contentious issue.

Despite assurances by the local leaders, civic departments and police officials, fruit vendors and hawkers near Charminar does not seem to be convinced and they are continuing with their protests.

They are insisting on continuing their business near the iconic structure and fear that they would lose their livelihoods if they were relocated to any other place. Though some fruit vendors have been shifted to Charminar Bus Terminal, many don’t want to accede to the demands of the authorities.

Police authorities and political leaders are not finding amicable solution for this problem in the area. The Charminar area has been under full of digging and construction activity for past few months following the Charminar Pedestrian Project (CPP).

Similarly, the vendors and hawkers near the structure were also under stress and have lot of apprehensions about their business. Hawkers alleged that authorities did not provide them the proper alternative for carrying out their business in the nearby area.
Upon request by the hawkers and vendors, police authorities have agreed to provide alternative space from Gulzar Houz to Kalikaman road. However, the gold and silver businessmen started questioning the decision.

They have demanded the police and civic authorities to ensure that their business is not affected with the vendors and hawkers in the street. This has paved way for possible tussle between gold businessmen and pavement vendors in the coming days.

Political representatives are on the one hand convincing the businessmen and vendors on the other to see an acceptable deal for all the stakeholders.

Abdul Kareem, a hawker near Charminar said that doing business near Charminar was not a simple task. He said that though authorities have provided alternative place of business to them, but permanent shop owners there were protesting against the move. This is creating a lot of confusion among the vendors and hawkers and we are uncertain of our business prospect in the coming days, he added.

 Meanwhile, protesting against the allotment of space to the vendors and hawkers, gold and silver traders near Charkaman shut their shops on Thursday and demanded the authorities to revoke the decision. The hawkers and street vendors were allotted the space to continue their business following the Charminar Pedestrian Project (CPP) works.