Vendors averse to the market complex

Vendors averse to the market complex
Deccan Herald

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s fruits, flower and vegetable market complex in Marenahalli (Ward 35) of Vijayanagar is yet to be occupied, though it was built three years ago.

The BMP had built this market complex, consisting of 77 shops, to lease it out to the pavement vendors who were selling fruits, flowers and vegetables on the service road (17th Main Road) in Vijayanagar. But none of the 77 shops have been occupied by the vendors and they still continue to sell on the pavement.

To make matters worse the complex has been converted into a garbage-dumping yard by the residents of the area. While the beggars have made it their abode, the new shops have become public toilets.

Earlier, the pavement vendors used to make a brisk business while the huge shopping malls in the area had failed to attract people. This resulted in inconvenience to the people, as they had to encounter traffic jams. Vehicle users had to struggle to get parking space.

Following this, some residents and businessmen sought the intervention of the Karnataka High Court.

The BMP evicted the vendors and also constructing a new complex for them near the BMTC bus depot of Vijayanagar. But the vendors are not interested in shifting to the market complex. According a vendor, the new market complex is about one km away from the original place from which they were evicted. The earlier place which was more advantageous, he said.

After the eviction drive, all these vendors migrated to pavements on another service road in the area (Ward 33 & 34). Though they were allowed to carry-on their business in this area as a stop-gap arrangement, they are now not interested in vacating these pavements, says Hampinagara Corporator H Jayaram.

Marenahalli Ward Corporator Nagaratna Pillaraju notes that some of the vendors have even paid the annual rent of Rs 3,600 for the shops in new complex. But, they have not occupied the shops, she added.