Grand Bazaar Traders Stage Road Blockade

The footpath vendors of the Grand Bazaar here resorted to road blockade on Nehru Street on Thursday, protesting the civic officials’ removal of  goods put up for  sale on the pavement inside the market.

PUDUCHERRY: The footpath vendors of the Grand Bazaar here resorted to road blockade on Nehru Street on Thursday, protesting the civic officials’ removal of  goods put up for  sale on the pavement inside the market.

The vendors said  their livelihood would be affected following the drive by the civic officials, who acted on the directions of the Local Administration Minister N G Pannir Selvam, who visited the Grand Bazaar, a few days back.

The Minister had instructed the officials to remove the footpath vendors and their petty shops to facilitate the easy access of the public to the bazaar. Since most of the places on the footpath were occupied by the vendors, it was proving to be inconvenient to the public as well as the other shopkeepers in  the market.

The civic officials tried to segregate the areas, in which the footpath vendors could sell their items. This was met with resistance and the officials entered into an argument with the vendors who insisted that they should not be moved from the place from where they have been conducting their daily business.

As the officials did not pay heed to their plea, the vendors came out and sat on Nehru Street, one of the busiest shopping places, and raised slogans against the administration.

Personnel from the Grand Bazaar police station rushed to spot and brought the situation under control. They pacified the vendors, who later dispersed. Meanwhile, public protested the opening of a liquor shop near Sooramangalam Koot Road at Nettapakkam and demanded that the outlet be  closed.

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The New Indian Express
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