Waris Fayaz
Sopore, Jan 12 : The street vendors continue to hamper the pedestrian and vehicular movement here in North Kashmir’s Sopore town of Baramulla district, even as the local administration has directed them from time to time not to occupy the roads.
The repeated directions from the administration are being thrown to walls and orders are proving hoax as town gets chocked due to huge traffic mess during peak hours, making pedestrian movement very difficult.
Locals comprising commuters, employees and students told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they have to face immense hardships due to the presence of vendors on roadsides and footpaths. “There is no room for pedestrians as most of the space on footpaths is taken by vendors and shopkeepers and are forced to walk on the roads increasing the risk of accidents”, they said.
Ghulam Nabi, a local resident said: “Despite the fact that people are facing hardships, authorities seem non-serious about the plan of removing the street vendors”, said Ghulam Nabi, a local resident. “It seems there’s something fishy about the issue of accommodating the vendors as one day the vendors are removed but the next day they again occupy their spaces.”
Locals allege that “Removal of street vendors is mere an eye wash. It seems both the authorities as well as the vendors are hand-in-glove.”
Junaid Peer, another local said: “Traffic jams can prove detrimental for patients in case of any medical emergency. Ironically, the concerned authorities are acting as mute spectators. The main market is fully occupied by the street vendors and even pedestrians do not find it safe to walk from here when traffic gets stuck.”
Locals appealed to the concerned authorities and the district administration to look into the matter at an earliest so that they could have a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, executive officer Municipal Council Sopore, Tariq Ahmed Reshi told KNO, that they are on it and the issue would be redressed soon. “We have identified the spots where the vendors would be accommodated, it may take a week to streamline the things”, official added—(KNO)
