Kolkata: Around 290 hawkers will be relocated to new complexes near Sapoorji housing and Tarulia by the month end as part of a rehabilitation exercise undertaken by New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA). Once the shift is over, NKDA plans to convert the temporary market sites into mango orchards.
NKDA officials said construction of the complexes is almost complete, with only electrical work left. "A total of 205 hawkers doing business at the temporary market near Sapoorji will be shifted to the new building. The aim is to increase the greenery of the township by developing mini gardens at the sites of temporary markets," said an official.
In the complex that has been set up in Tarulia, 81 hawkers are to be rehabilitated, officials said. "We are expecting to rehabilitate the hawkers in the two buildings by the end of this month," the official added.
A few months ago, NKDA allotted 260 hawkers to do business at the hawkers' market near TCS-Gitanjali. NKDA conducted a survey before last year's Durga Puja and identified 3,133 hawkers across New Town, of which, the authorities were working on rehabilitating 1,887 hawkers who were listed.
The authorities are in the process of issuing ID cards to the hawkers who are eligible for rehabilitation. "ID cards will be issued to those not on the rehabilitation list and they will be rehabilitated in phases," said an official.
NKDA has also come up with a plan to set up a five-storey market complex-cum-community hall in New Town BG block in Action Area I to rehabilitate around 200 hawkers and street vendors currently doing business on the roadside near DLF.