HUBLI
The protracted delay by the authorities of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) in shifting vendors in Janata Bazaar, Dajibanpeth, and other arterial roads leading to the Kittur Rani Chennamma Circle, has added to the chaos on these thoroughfares, with commuters having to endure snarls nearly every day.
The HDMC had mooted a plan to relocate vegetable and fruit vendors from Janata Bazaar and Dajibanpeth to Hosur Cross and Gokul Road. However, this plan has not been realised, resulting in haphazard parking by customers along these arterial roads, which in turn, has resulted in gridlock on these thoroughfares.
HDMC spent Rs 94 lakh to build an open market on Gokul Road, and stalls at Hosur Cross, and put in place necessary infrastructure for basic amenities. However, the civic body’s failure to take the vendors and other stakeholders in confidence while developing the market has meant that they are reluctant to shift their business to a new location.
HDMC, along with the Hubli-Dharwad Smart City Ltd (HDSCL), vacated the main building at Janata Bazaar as part of the redevelopment project. Officials from both the agencies spoke to the vendors at Janata Bazaar, asking them to shift their shops to Hosur Cross and Gokul Road. Under the ‘Smart City’ project, Janata Bazaar is being refurbished at a cost of Rs 18.35 crore.
In accordance with the directions of the HDMC and HDSCL officials, the vendors shifted their shops to the alternative places they had suggested. However, with the turnover at the new place not matching their expectations, they started looking for a more suitable location, before finding their way back to spots much closer to Janata Bazaar.
Vegetable vendor Kashibai pointed out that the markets developed by the HDMC and HDSCL were located too far from the centre of Hubballi. “People are unlikely to travel as far to purchase vegetables. Dwindling returns forced us to find a place as close to Janata Bazaar in the end,” she said.
A senior police officer said that, traffic congestion around Rani Chenamma Circle was likely to grow worse once work on the flyover started. “We will discuss the issue of shifting the vegetable vendors to an alternative location while work on reconstruction of Janata Bazaar is under way,” he said.
Hubli-Dharwad Town Vending Committee member Premanath Chikkatumbal regretted the failure of the authorities to ensure basic facilities to vendors. “Before asking vendors to shift to these new locations, they must thoroughly studied the problems involved, but they did not. Consequently, vendors are returning to Janata Bazaar,” he said.
HDMC commissioner B Gopalkrishna said that he would discuss the problem with police officials and see if a solution could be worked out to ensure hassle-free movement of traffic around the Rani Chennamma Circle. “If required, we will discuss the issue again with the vendors, and convince them to shift their shops away from Janata Bazaar,” he said.
