Kolkata: Police and Town Vending Committee members jointly conducted hawker pushback drives in the New Market area, Burrabazar, and Entally on Wednesday. Cops also initiated legal proceedings against two hawkers in Entally and Burrabazar following the anti-encroachment drive prompted by persistent complaints from locals.
The operation, led by the police, aimed to clear footpaths obstructed by unauthorised vendors, allowing pedestrians to walk freely.
The Town Vending Committee members and cops were spotted moving around the New Market area, including Humayun Place, Bertram Street, and Lindsay Street, making announcements asking hawkers to remove their wares that spilled onto the road. The hawkers were warned of legal action if they did not abide by the instructions of the police.
A civic official stated that the hawkers returned to occupy the carriageway in vending zones, taking advantage of the absence of vigilance.
A member of the Town Vending Committee said, "Today no hawker was evicted. Rather, we asked the encroachers to clear their wares from the road. Along with the police, we will be monitoring the situation, and more such joint operations will be conducted so that the hawkers will be forced to follow the vending rules.
"A police officer who was part of the anti-encroachment drive at New Market said, "People faced difficulty in moving about because of the encroachments. Today we gave the encroachers a warning. If they continue occupying the carriageway despite our warning, we shall take legal action against those hawkers.
"In Entally, a case was registered against Savan Shaw, 40, for allegedly placing goods on the footpath at P-123, CIT Road, causing significant obstruction to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The complaint was filed by sergeant Rajdeep Roy of Entally Police Station, and the investigation is currently underway.
Simultaneously, in Burrabazar, a separate case was filed against Prahlad Kumar Sha, 29, for blocking the road with merchandise, specifically fifty pieces of full pants, at 23, Amratalla Street. The complaint was lodged by sergeant Soumyajit Mondal of the Jorabagan Traffic Guard. The incident reportedly caused severe disruption to traffic flow and pedestrian movement.
Both cases were registered under Section 285 of the Bengal Municipal Act, reflecting the authorities' commitment to addressing public grievances regarding encroachments. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) was informed post-operation, highlighting the collaborative effort between the police and municipal authorities to maintain public order and ensure the safety and convenience of city residents.
The police have assured continued vigilance and action against unauthorised encroachments, emphasising the importance of keeping public pathways clear for the safety and convenience of all citizens.