Pushback drive in Chandni Chowk to remove ovens, benches from pavements
Times of India | 14 July 2024
12 Kolkata: The cops on Saturday started regulating food hawkers and other encroachers on Ganesh Chandra Avenue and other pockets of Chandni Chowk where several eateries have placed their ovens out on the pavements. They have occupied more than two-thirds of the pavements by placing chairs and benches for customers.
The cops instructed the owners of the eateries to shift ovens and utensils inside the eateries.They also removed the chairs and benches from the pavements.
The administration has been cracking down on encroachments on pavements and carriageways after CM Mamata Banerjee rapped a section of her cabinet colleagues, cops and officials over issues of illegal encroachment and parking.
An eatery beside Hind Inox has been cooking on ovens on the pavements for several years now. Not only does it take over half of the pavement but also poses risk of burn injuries to pedestrians. On Saturday, the team instructed the cook to remove inside.
“We have also told them to henceforth cook inside the eatery. The oven and utensils block half of the pavement. Several other eateries on this stretch do the same thing,” said an officer leading the drive.
The pavements on the stretch between Wellington and Bentinck Street-GC Avenue crossing, which is more than 1km long, has close to 200 hawkers on either flank.
The cops also removed chairs and benches from the pavement. “Reduce the size of the stall and don’t place chairs and benches on the pavements. Next time, we will take away all your possessions if you don’t follow the guidelines,” said a cop to a hawker on GC Avenue.
Saturday’s drive started around noon and continued for over an hour on GC Avenue, Nirmal Chunder Street, Biplabi Anukul Chandra Street and Malanga Lane. “We have instructed the hawkers and shop owners to leave space for pedestrians. We will visit next week and those defying will be penalized,” said a cop.