Kolkata plans to remove New Market hawkers post-Eid

Kolkata officials plan to clear hawkers from New Market streets following Eid-ul-Fitr this month. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and police will team up for this special effort. The decision came after local traders protested the increase in hawker encroachment in the area. During a Town Vending Committee (TVC) meeting, KMC announced it will issue about 14,000 vending certificates to hawkers in several locations, including New Market. There are plans to distribute an additional 40,000 certificates once approved by the TVC. Concerns were raised about conflicts between hawker unions vying for space in New Market. Tensions flared recently when hawkers clashed over access to Bertram Street, which is meant for parking but has been occupied by vendors for years. Earlier efforts to clear the area involved removing many hawkers while allowing some to remain along the market walls. The sizes of their stalls were also reduced to accommodate more vendors. However, many hawkers have returned as the festive season approaches. Saktiman Ghosh, the general secretary of the Hawker Sangram Committee, questioned the police's ability to manage the situation despite previous enforcement efforts. Debasish Kumar, co-chairman of the TVC, assured that timely actions would be taken to keep the streets clear.