The entire area is littered with cars and equipment, leaving no space for passersby
For residents of government quarters in Sector-5 of RK Puram, going to the market has become a tedious task now, as a number of cars, equipment, and mechanics block most of the passages and corridors in the area.
Car mechanics have apparently encroached upon all the paths and roads in the market meant to house only small shops for grocery and other basic amenities for the families living nearby. The entire area is littered with cars and equipment, leaving no space for passersby.
Of the 36 shops in the market, so many have been rented out to car mechanics that the area is more popularly known as 'car market or auto market'. Residents claim that as a result, incidents of snatching, eve-teasing, and fights have become much more common in the market.
"Women and children cannot go to the market after 7 pm because the mechanics start drinking and passing lewd comments,"resident Uma Devi said. "The entire market is full of cars needing repair. The work starts in the middle of the corridor that is meant for walking,"said another resident, requesting anonymity.
According to shopkeepers, people at the car repair shops have formed a kind of mafia and no one dares to speak against them. "I have my shop since the market was first started. These goons have monopolised the market and even the police does not take any action against them. The verandas and corridors are all covered with cars. Actual shop owners are simply minting money by renting out these shops,"a shopkeeper said, requesting anonymity.
"I have lodged several complaints with the police but not a single FIR has been registered against these miscreants,"the shopkeeper said. Most residents, who refused to reveal their identity, claimed that several complaints have been sent to the municipal corporations and the Delhi Police in this regard but all in vain.
"Several complaints have been sent to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and the Delhi Police but they just keep trading the blame," Devi said.
"Many times, the civic body team comes and evacuates the mechanics but they come and settle again. These shopkeepers also get information about these raids in advance and remove all the cars from the market,"she added.
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