Displaced fruit vendors complain business loss

Charminar: Fruit vendors shifted from Charminar surroundings to Charminar Bus Terminal area are now complaining of bleak business and blame authorities for their loss. They have been there for almost one month now and said that it was a bad deal for them.

The fruit vendors were displaced from Charminar following the expansion of Charminar Pedestrian Project (CPP) along with other street vendors and hawkers. Fruit vendors, however, were given at least alternative place to continue their business unlike the other vendors.

Vendors also got the alternative space, but it is in the dispute following the protest by jewellers and gold traders. Fruit vendors said that the percentage of sale dropped drastically from the time they were shifted to the bus terminal area.

They said that people find it difficult to enter the market-like terminal area and refrain from buying fruits here. Khadeer, a fruit vendor, said that earlier it was like a quick stop and purchase things and was convenient for the people. However, latest spot for fruit vendors has become inconvenient for people to purchase fruits.

They also said that people believe fruit vendors were asked to move but most people don’t know where the vendors were shifted. They said that floating population including tourists, outsiders and visitors from other state were their major source of income, but this is missing after the displacement of vendors.

Following this situation, many fruit vendors have shifted their push carts on the road side of the bus shelter and could get some attention of the people however many others who remain inside the bus shelter premises still condemn the decision of authorities.

The pedestrianisation project works would be completed in few more months and fruit vendors were not given any surety of rehabilitation by the civic authorities. Authorities on the other hand said that Charminar Bus Shelter was the best alternative place that fruit vendors could get near their old business place.