Fear looms as illegal hawkers unleash threats to locals, shopkeepers
Cars and pedestrians fight for space near Santacruz station. Pic/ Shadab Khan
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Life is no cruise in Santacruz West. Residents and shopkeepers on Kanubhai Station Road, commonly known as Station Road, claim they are being constantly harassed and threatened by the growing number of hawkers, who have taken over the stretch, shrinking it to half its size, and making it difficult for motorists to negotiate.
The Station Road sees a line of tin stalls of impressive height, some on the footpath, others on the roads. Just in front of these, stand a line of smaller mobile hawkers, who spill on to the roads. "They are able to pick up their wares and run away at the sight of a BMC van," said a resident, on condition of anonymity. Locals claim the civic authorities and hawkers may be in cahoots.
"Otherwise, how would they know when the van is expected and when to return," said one of the residents, cynically.
What makes it worse is that hawkers also threaten residents with dire consequences, when they ask them to clear the spot. When this reporter visited the site, shopkeepers located behind these hawkers were resigned to yet another day of invisibility. The fear is all pervasive though. "Do not write our names or give any indication that we have spoken to the press. We have had enough threats to our life," one shopkeeper said.
One retailer summed up the sentiment for the line of legitimate commercial shops that are hidden now by illegal stalls. "Shop owners want to sell their stores as they are completely covered by the illegal stalls in front of them. When we ask them to move out, the hawkers tell us cheekily, 'Increase the height of your shops!'" he said.
The nearby Sompuri Market residential building society, has two gates, one of these is permanently blocked because of hawkers outside the gate. "If our cars find it difficult to enter these lanes, how will a fire engine be able to enter?" a resident asked. "This is a recipe for disaster, if we are cleaning up public spaces after the Kamala Mills fire, what about residential areas that have exits blocked?"
When contacted, Alka Kerkar, H West ward corporator, said, "We do take regular action against hawkers and illegal stalls in the area. The BMC van has moved in on numerous occasions to remove them, yet they seem to be back. We will increase vigilance and take police help if needed."
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