Esplanade and Lenin Sarani to come under yellow line cover
Times of India | 19 February 2024
Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is planning to draw yellow lines on pavements along Lenin Sarani, northern flank of SN Banerjee Road (the opposite side of KMC headquarters) and the flanks near Metro building and KC Das shop for demarcation of one-third hawking space.
Following a survey to clear carriageways and pavements of encroachment in the city’s hawking zones, the Town Vending Committee (TVC) has shortlisted these areas of central Kolkata to make the hawkers fall in the yellow line so that pedestrians will get two-third walking space.
Last Friday, the TVC, along with KMC officials and cops, had started drawing the yellow line on the southern flank of SN Banerjee Road (the side of KMC headquarters). Asit Saha, a TVC member and president of West Bengal Hawkers’ Joint Action Committee, told TOI on Sunday: “Following the demarcation of one-third vending zone on the pavement of SN Banerjee Road, we are going to start drawing the yellow line on the opposite flank of the road.”
Asked about the next course of action to remove hawkers’ encroachment on pavements in other parts of the city, Saha said, “A survey has already been carried out and we are starting with the areas where pedestrians are forced to walk down roads, thus resulting in traffic congestions during peak hours. The pavements that are coming up next on our priority list to remove encroachment include Lenin Sarani, northern flank of SN Banerjee Road, the flanks near Metro building and KC Das sweet shop. In the next TVC-KMC meeting, a final decision will be taken when the yellow line demarcation will be done in these areas.”
A KMC official said hawkers need to be streamlined on the pavement in front of the Metropolitan building at Esplanade, where pedestrians don’t have access to a hurdles-free walk. “We have already received complaints from traders and locals about the encroachment issue at SN Banerjee Road, Lenin Sarani, the Esplanade areas. We have already asked the vendors verbally to remove the encroachments and action will be initiated if they don’t adhere to the demarcated space after the yellow line is drawn,” said the official.
Earlier, yellow lines had demarcated hawking zones in the New Market vicinity like the pavements along Grand Arcade, Humayun Place, Lindsay Street, Bertram Street and Chowringhee Place. Recently, the southern flank of SN Banerjee Road has got yellow line.