Veggie sales down at HMR Plaza

Bharatnagar: The euphoria of getting a stall inside the Hyderabad Metro Rail Plaza for vegetable vendors built at the Bharatnagar Metro Station has been a short-lived one. Within a few months after the opening of the Plaza, 35 vegetable vendors have opted out and are now selling vegetables on the footpath right opposite the market yard. 

B Ramachander, who owns stall no 108, said, “Many have left as the business is down. People are used to buying from the roadside. This apart, there are several retailers who have begun selling at wholesale rates resulting in a dip in business.” The vendors say that the Rs 2,000 rent per month that the HMRL collects is on the higher side as business is low. Ramulu, (name changed) said, “When we were selling on the roadside, we were better off.

 There were no overheads but now whether we do business or not, we need to pay the rent.” 
HMR officials say that the intention to build the market yard was to provide a clean environment and to avoid accidents. People still need to get used to the concept. 

The vendors are not allowed to sell vegetables outside the Plaza however, once the traffic police were out of sight, they set up their stall on the footpath. In all, there are 114 stalls in the market yard, which opens at 4 am and closes by 11:30 pm.

Bharatnagar: The euphoria of getting a stall inside the Hyderabad Metro Rail Plaza for vegetable vendors built at the Bharatnagar Metro Station has been a short-lived one. Within a few months after the opening of the Plaza, 35 vegetable vendors have opted out and are now selling vegetables on the footpath right opposite the market yard. 

B Ramachander, who owns stall no 108, said, “Many have left as the business is down. People are used to buying from the roadside. This apart, there are several retailers who have begun selling at wholesale rates resulting in a dip in business.” The vendors say that the Rs 2,000 rent per month that the HMRL collects is on the higher side as business is low. Ramulu, (name changed) said, “When we were selling on the roadside, we were better off.

 There were no overheads but now whether we do business or not, we need to pay the rent.” 
HMR officials say that the intention to build the market yard was to provide a clean environment and to avoid accidents. People still need to get used to the concept. 

The vendors are not allowed to sell vegetables outside the Plaza however, once the traffic police were out of sight, they set up their stall on the footpath. In all, there are 114 stalls in the market yard, which opens at 4 am and closes by 11:30 pm.

     -Anthony Francis