The Gwalior Municipal Corporation has asked hawkers at Maharaja Bada and the surrounding areas to vacate the place immediately.
According to Narottam Bhargav, the Additional Municipal Commissioner, street vendors have been asked to vacate as part of the city beautification drive, decongestion exercise and convenience of pedestrians and motorists.
Regarding the relocation of the hawkers, the Additional
Commissioner said that alternate locations at Kampoo have already been provided to them and added that the hawkers will be shifted there as per the street vending policy.
Earlier too, the Gwalior Civic Body had drawn up elaborate plans to regulate the hawkers in the city by identifying and earmarking hawking zones that do not hinder traffic and pedestrian movement. However the regulation of hawkers had become a tough task due to political intervention coupled with the vested interests of the corporation officials and the police. It is a fact that hawkers could encroach pavements, causing inconveniences to one and all only with the connivance of the officials and the police.
However, the civic body seems to have taken up as, according to sources separate and specific bylaws have been framed this time to regulate the hawkers.