KOCHI: In order to restore Broadway’s former glory it is imperative to rid the street of wayside vendors, who sell everything from clothes to cheap mobile handsets and Chinese toys.
There should not be any moral concern for the Corporation as most of the street vendors are ‘benamis’ of big traders and politicians.
When ‘Express’ ventured into their area of operation, it was found that around 80 per cent of the vendors on the street were working for big traders.
“We don’t have large investments to run a business like this. So, we work for the investors, who pay us a daily wage. The materials being sold on the street are also provided by the investors. Our job is only to sell the items. If we sell more items, we would be paid commission,” said a street vendor on condition of anonymity.
Interestingly, it was found that the space being used by the vendors at Broadway for selling commodities is taken on lease by the investor ‘mafia’ on daily basis.
According to merchants operating in the area, vendors pay `500-1,500 to the so-called investors for availing space. “The process has been going on like this for several years. But, no one has the courage to question it,” said a merchant. Though the High Court has banned all types of street vendors, neither the Corporation nor the Police have taken any action to remove the illegal vendors from Broadway. “As per the High Court order, street vendors are banned from Broadway. Though we have filed complaints against the menace on several occasions, the authorities are yet to respond,” said Kerala Merchants Chamber of Commerce general secretary P S Paul. Meanwhile, the Street Vendors Association refuted the allegations levelled against them, and denied that they were engaged any illegal business at Broadway. “It is a fact that not all vendors can run business by investing their own money. So, some of them take stock from established shops and sell them on the street for a commission.
There is no area at Broadway that has been captured and used exclusively by street vendors,” said Street Vendors Federation sate secretary K A Usman, adding that as per a recent High Court order, street vendors should be evacuated from Broadway only after rehabilitating them.
We need to prod corp to make broadway a heritage zone
“The local municipalities and the Kochi Corporation could implement this if they want to. We need to prod them on making Broadway a heritage project, and I would be all in support.” “I still remember how as a youngster I would wander around the quaint lanes with my friends. There was a nice ambience. I remember browsing in the bookshops and going into cafes and having coffee and snacks. It is important to preserve the traditional architectural spaces. It helps us retain the memory of that time. Kerala has such ugly glass buildings now, and I feel sad that we are moving away from traditional architecture.”
(Kochi Biennale Foundation president Bose Krishnamachari)
A street of celebration to remember
“Most of the foreign countries have the concept of street markets which are marked as ‘no vehicle zones.’ They mainly sell things that are suitable for tourists, such as souvenirs, mementos, antiques and gifts. Hence, everyone who visits a particular city will pay a visit to the street market also. It will be a street of celebration, with street magicians, street singers and street dancers. In some places, they will have trailers of dramas played in the nearby theatres. The artists will perform a small portion of the play/drama, almost similar to the trailers of films we watch on television. Almost all the major cities in Europe have such a place that will make it a memorable one for visitors. Let us try for one here.”
Lal Jose, frontline film maker in Malayalam, who has
visited more than 40 countries)
Develop broadway with the help of architects
“We have wrong notions about development, and hardly respect ecology, heritage, old-age and history. Generally, we don’t consider preservation of heritage as very important, because we are in a fast-moving society where we hardly respect the elements that have played an important role in setting our tradition. But, definitely they all need some kind of adaptableness, and it is up to the youngsters to work for preserving the history of our society. Definitely, Broadway should be renovated with the aid of architects, in association with the other agencies concerned.”
(Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) director P J Cherian)