Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Nearly 200 street vendors swarmed the streets of Guwahati on Wednesday, September 9. They want back in. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation blocked these roadside sellers from opening shop on September 1. This crackdown hits H.B. Road and M.S. Road hard.
The city claims it needs to clear traffic and help pedestrians. Vendors filed an application on September 4 asking to work the stretch from Khubchand Chariali to Sikh Mandir Police Point Chariali. They want their livelihoods back. They even marched to the home of MLA Vijay Kumar Gupta.
The politician was a no-show. One vendor stated, "we had gone to meet the MLA but could not meet anyone." Frustration boiled over near Sharma Sweets shortly after. A crowd cornered local ward councillor Pramod Swami. Some people tried to jump him. Police arrived fast and pulled the councillor out to keep him safe.
GMC officials say they have 81 vending zones picked out citywide. None are ready yet. They are currently surveying the area to find new spots. Traders recognize the city has a traffic problem, but they need a place to make money now. They are pushing officials to find a middle ground before more tempers flare.
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