VIJAYAWADA: Night Food Court, the popular eatery for the denizens of Vijayawada, will continue to operate near Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium on Mahatma Gandhi Road, like earlier.
Following the objections raised by the vendors and the ruling party leaders to the officials’ move to shift the food court to Padmavathi Ghat on Sunday night, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu intervened and directed the district collector and municipal commissioner not to disturb the food court operation near the IGMC. Tension prevailed near the IGMC on Sunday night when the district administration with the support of municipal staff made attempts to shift the food court vendors to near Padmavathi bathing ghat, to avoid business disturbance at Amaravati Shopping Festival (ASF) on Swaraj Maidan and also curb traffic snarls on the busy MG Road.
However, the vendors vehemently objected to the move and thwarted the officials’ attempt to seize their pushcarts, cooking tools and paraphernalia. On learning this, the TDP leaders joined their hands with the vendors and staged an agitation in front of the municipal commissioner’s house.
“The municipal corporation officials threatened us to shift the food stall to Padmavathi ghat, until the completion of Amaravati Shopping Festival at PWD Grounds. As of now, we are doing our business with marginal profits near IGMC. How can we shift the food stall to another place where there is no business?” questioned Ch Naga Anjaneyulu, who runs a dosa stall in the food court.
“We did not receive any prior notice from the civic authorities as regards relocation of the food court. Thanks to the CM for understanding us vendors, we are now allowed to continue our businesses at IGMC,” said K Veeramma, who runs a stall.