Hawkers sell goods at Paltan Bazar. File picture

April 27: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation is planning to evict the make-shift stalls set up on footpath in the Paltan Bazar area after the election process is over in the state.

A long line of stalls on one side and parked vehicles on the other leave very little space for the pedestrians to walk. As a result, the increasing load of traffic has to squeeze though the remaining space available. The traffic congestion on AT Road passing by the ASTC bus terminus is worse, as the footpaths are non-existent. There is hardly any scope for expansion of the existing roads, as either side is occupied by tall buildings.

Traffic snarls are common from Ulubari flyover to Meghdoot cinema. The road connecting Nepali Mandir and Meghdoot cinema with AT Road has no drains, which makes the place murkier during rains.

“I have been selling things by the roadside for so many years now and I have never faced any problem. The police confront us only when we sit in the middle of the footpath. But my stall is on the side of the footpath and does not block the way,” said Rajan Singh, a hawker selling stationery items in Paltan Bazar.

“If we are barred from here, the authorities should allot a permanent place for us. We have no other place to sell our vegetables. If we are evicted from here, where will we go?” asked another vendor.

“We are planning to evict hawkers blocking the roadsides in areas that witness traffic congestion. Though we will start the process after elections, we do fine them for violating the existing norms,” said Guwahati Municipal Corporation commissioner Anurag Goel.

Though traffic police can fine drivers who park their vehicles on footpath, shortage of manpower prevents them from catching erring drivers.

“We strictly instruct our traffic officers to fine drivers found blocking footpath by parking vehicles on them. We also use towing vans to remove vehicles parked on the wrong side. The shopkeepers in Paltan Bazaar are also asked not to park their two-wheelers on the footpath adjacent to their shops. But shortage of sufficient manpower makes it difficult to monitor these drivers. And they, too, violate the law whenever any police constable is not at sight,” said Bibekananda Das, superintendent of traffic police.

“Parking of tourist vehicles on the roadside is also being considered and we may soon allot a place for them,” said Das.

“This is a designated parking place for private Tata Sumos, carrying passengers to Shillong. We park our vehicles here. Only tourist vehicles operating under ASTC have been allotted space inside the bus terminus,” said N. Kalita, crew of a private tourist vehicle.