Cops, KMC shift New Market zone parking lot to act as hawker shield
Times of India | 16 July 2024
KOLKATA: A third of Bertram Street next to New Market has been freed up for traffic with Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Kolkata Police shifting the parking lot next to the line of hawkers along the market’s western wall.
The move has allowed police and civic authorities to restrain hawkers who had been pushed back against the wall from spilling over onto the road with the parked cars acting as a barrier.
After the hawker pushback in June-end, the parking lot that had been usurped by hawkers was reclaimed. Shortly thereafter, a yellow line was drawn in place of the blue line that used to be there to demarcate the parking lot.
This had created a confusion on whether the space had been reserved for hawking as yellow lines are drawn on pavements to mark the space till where hawkers can peddle their wares.
To avoid conflict with hawker unions, the cars were being parked beyond the yellow line in almost the middle of Bertram Street.
With hawkers occupying the entire pavement on the western flank of the road, pedestrians now have no option but to walk on Bertram Street.
At the same time, hawkers with stalls along the New Market wall began trying to again expand their business and occupy a third of the street. That is when cops and civic officials stepped in.
“We asked the agency managing the parking lots to ensure that all cars are parked within the yellow line so that two-third of Bertram Street is free for movement of cars and pedestrians,” said an officer who does the round of streets around New Market to ensure hawker discipline.
The move has found favour with both shoppers and traders. “My family has been shopping in New Market for three generations. Although there is still no market that offers such variety, I had stopped visiting the market due to the parking problem. When I learnt that parking lots had been freed of encroachment, I came to check out and am delighted to see the transformation,” said Shyambazar resident Amarnath Coomar.
“Now, we are getting a steady flow of cars after nearly a decade. On a weekend we are now getting around 25 cars,”said an attendant who collects parking fees on the street.
A senior official of a car parking agency said he was contemplating employing more attendants at Bertram Street as business is back after the hawker pushback. At Humayun Place space to park 18 cars had been reduced to only six.
S S Hogg Market Traders’ Association president Ashok Gupta welcomed the restoration of car parking on the two streets. “We hope KMC and police are able to keep the parking lots intact. It will help revive the heritage market that is celebrating its 150th anniversary,” said Gupta.