No more a shoppers’ delight?

No more a shoppers’ delight?

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: At least 100 street vendors from Maya Bazaar, the informal two-hour market near Infantry Road, were evicted on Tuesday , based on a complaint by a resident of a luxury apartment block who could not manoeuvre his car through the crowds.

Maya Bazaar is no misnomer for the street. Almost as if with a wave of a wand, the street that is practically empty magically turns into a beehive of neat bargains and vociferous haggling at 12.30 p.m. every day.

Cartloads of vegetables and fruits, heaps of clothes and leather goods, sweets and cookies, Chinese electronic goods and beauty products. Just wish for it and it will be conjured up for you. And then, just as suddenly as it all began, it is all over — 120 frenetic minutes later, with almost clockwork precision, the street returns to its former tranquillity.

The arrangement is mutually beneficial, regulars vouch. They get their basic shopping done in minutes without having to travel far and the hawkers dispose of some of their wares before taking their trade elsewhere.

Santhosh P., who works for a software firm nearby, watching the eviction, sighed: “I picked up a Calvin Klein factory second here for a mere 50 bucks.”

Indira Mani, who manages a stressful job and a more stressful home life with aplomb, is all worked up. “I do most of my vegetable shopping here. I even get drumstick leaves and magali root here. What authorities don’t realise is that by shopping locally like this we do our bit to reduce pollution and congestion.”

Iqbal, a vendor from Shivajinagar, who has been doing business on this street for the last 10 years, speaks of the precarious livelihood of the 100-odd vendors who work here.

On Tuesday, one of the large cars belonging to the complainant could not pass through the road, following which there was an exchange of words between the driver of the vehicle and the vendors. But the vendors could have not anticipated what was in store for them the following day when they arrived for work. A police team was stationed to chase them away. No more a shoppers’ delight?

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: At least 100 street vendors from Maya Bazaar, the informal two-hour market near Infantry Road, were evicted on Tuesday , based on a complaint by a resident of a luxury apartment block who could not manoeuvre his car through the crowds.

Maya Bazaar is no misnomer for the street. Almost as if with a wave of a wand, the street that is practically empty magically turns into a beehive of neat bargains and vociferous haggling at 12.30 p.m. every day.

Cartloads of vegetables and fruits, heaps of clothes and leather goods, sweets and cookies, Chinese electronic goods and beauty products. Just wish for it and it will be conjured up for you. And then, just as suddenly as it all began, it is all over — 120 frenetic minutes later, with almost clockwork precision, the street returns to its former tranquillity.

The arrangement is mutually beneficial, regulars vouch. They get their basic shopping done in minutes without having to travel far and the hawkers dispose of some of their wares before taking their trade elsewhere.

Santhosh P., who works for a software firm nearby, watching the eviction, sighed: “I picked up a Calvin Klein factory second here for a mere 50 bucks.”

Indira Mani, who manages a stressful job and a more stressful home life with aplomb, is all worked up. “I do most of my vegetable shopping here. I even get drumstick leaves and magali root here. What authorities don’t realise is that by shopping locally like this we do our bit to reduce pollution and congestion.”

Iqbal, a vendor from Shivajinagar, who has been doing business on this street for the last 10 years, speaks of the precarious livelihood of the 100-odd vendors who work here.

On Tuesday, one of the large cars belonging to the complainant could not pass through the road, following which there was an exchange of words between the driver of the vehicle and the vendors. But the vendors could have not anticipated what was in store for them the following day when they arrived for work. A police team was stationed to chase them away.