“Our shops started setting up here 55 years ago, long before Didi came to power,” said president of the body, Bablu Das. “We would brave thieves and dacoits by coming to this dark and deserted part of town and this is how we are repaid? Civic bodies down the years have provided us electric connection and we also have access to taps and toilets. Our market committee is a registered body and the councillor, the mayor and the MLA all have our details so how are they calling us illegal?”
The footpaths were empty after the drives, with the rubble being cleared by the authorities and hawkers picking up whatever they could salvage.
“My sports shop on this footpath fed eight mouths in my house,” said Pradip Biswas. “I would run this shop as I couldn’t find a job. Let them give us alternate employment if they want to stop our business.” Gobindo Debnath, a fast food stall owner, said he had two kids, two loans to repay, and no source of income now.
The hawkers would offer on this stretch everything from fish and vegetables to meals, cycle repair, and barber shops. They rattled off names of IAS officers and Olympians (who train at SAIE) as their customers.
The vendors said they never paid rent or bribe for the space they occupied. “Before the under-17 FIFA World Cup games at the stadium in 2017, we were asked to vacate this area but were allowed to return after a year. We don’t know what will happen this time,” said Adhikary.
Fear spreading
Uncertainty looms large over hawkers in the township. Residents of CK and BK Blocks have long complained about a food stall between the two blocks. “They lay out tables and chairs on the road making it difficult for cars to pass, especially when they are approaching from both sides,” said a lady who lives on the CK Block side of the lane. “Complaints to the councilor have yielded no result for years but ever since I read about the CM’s reprimand, I’m hoping the stall will finally get evicted.”
The lady who runs the stall said she’s been here for some 20 years. While she was too scared to speak about the issue, her customers defended her tooth and nail.
“We can’t afford to eat at restaurants so come here for lunch,” said a Rapido app bike rider without sharing his name. “If the CM rehabilitates them at a food court they will have to pay rent. That will drive up the food prices and we won’t be able to afford it. The food court will be crowded that I bet we won’t get parking space either. I want these stalls to remain on the footpaths,” he added.