Hawkers who owe their allegiance to the Shiv Sena have requested the civic body to take a footpath in the Kabutarkhana area instead for this initiative.
Hawkers from Ranade Road and NC Kelkar Road in Dadar West have objected to the civic body's plan of developing a 'model footpath' — ie one completely free of hawkers — in the area for pedestrians. As many as 500 hawkers from the two locations have claimed that their past three generations have done business there and BMC's abrupt decision will rob them of their livelihoods.
Hawkers who owe their allegiance to the Shiv Sena have requested the civic body to take a footpath in the Kabutarkhana area instead for this initiative.
Interestingly, Sena leaders, who always vociferously demanded action against hawkers, are now backing these demands.
Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta has asked assistant commissioners of all 24 wards to ensure that at least one footpath in their area is a 'Model Footpath' for pedestrians.
Sena leaders in Central Mumbai areas of Dadar and Prabhadevi have vehemently opposed the civic body's action against hawkers, with the party's corporators in the BMC taking up the issue.
Representatives of 500 hawkers met leader of the House in the BMC Trushna Vishwasrao on Friday and informed her of their problem. Vishwasrao handed over the letter they submitted to additional municipal commissioner Pallavi Darade and sought time for a joint meeting to discuss the issue.
"Hawkers have been doing their business on Ranade Road and NC Kelkar Road for the past 50 years. The municipal corporation has started taking action against them since July, causing hardship to them by destroying their goods and demolishing their stalls," said Vishwasrao.
Hawkers claimed that they haven't got any notice from the BMC or any kind of intimation about the action. "All hawkers have registered themselves with the BMC by filling forms and paying Rs100 for the same. How can they take action against these registered hawkers even after Supreme Court's decision?" argued a hawker.
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