Vendors reluctant to occupy Rythu Bazaar slots at Bharat Nagar

Bharat Nagar: It is a case of old habits die hard. The vegetable vendors for whom a swanky vegetable market with proper platforms and a roof was constructed is still not fully occupied as vendors are still reluctant to get into the market and sell their produce.

The vegetable vendors have been squatting next to the Bharat Nagar Bridge for decades and are still there in spite of allotment of 114 shops inside the market. Only a handful has entered the bazaar. Speaking to The Hans India, Anji Reddy incharge of Metro Rail Market said, “Many say that customers are used to seeing them on the pavement. Only if all shift will customers too begin entering the market.”

Initially, the metro rail authorities wanted to collect Rs 3,000 rent per month but after stiff opposition from the vegetable vendors, the monthly rental was reduced to Rs 2,000 per month and would come into effect from May 1, 2018.   

About eight vendors shifted their shops into the metro rail market but they are facing losses as vegetables are getting spoiled and as they allege that customers are not walking into the market. They also say that a few vendors who did not get slots inside the market are not allowing customers into the market.

In all there are close to 250 roadside vendors and the metro Rythu Bazaar can accommodate about 120 of them. A lottery was conducted, and the lucky ones got slots.
Krishna Rao, traffic police inspector said, “We warned the vendors as their presence is causing traffic jams. We informed them they would have to pay challans.”

BY Mohammed Hussain