Bombay high court wants hawkers removed from Crawford Market in two months

Pedestrians at Crawford Market can soon hope for obstruction-free walks. The Bombay high court has asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to get rid of all the unauthorised hawkers from the road within two months.  

Following a petition filed by the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA), justices PB Majmudar and Mridula Bhatkar on December 20 ordered the civic body to act on the issue soon.   

The association alleged that despite being a no-hawking zone the hawkers occupy the footpath in such a manner that sometimes even the shop windows are covered from the view of shoppers.

They sometimes put up their wares too near the entry of the shops.  

Of the 100 hawkers present in the area only 32 have licence and they are mainly into selling cutlery.    

“It is the duty of the corporation to remove unauthorised occupants/hawkers so that people can have access to the footpath. Hence, the corporation is directed to remove the unauthorised occupants/ hawkers within a period of two months from today. For that purpose, if any police help is required, the corporation is directed to take the same and the commissioner of police is directed to give necessary police help, if required, by the corporation,” stated the order. 

It also directed the government to monitor the area by appointing an officer to see that nobody is allowed to occupy or encroach upon the footpath. 

“The corporation should ensure that even authorised hawkers do not go beyond the one by one feet area they are allowed to occupy,” said Viren Shah, member of FRTWA.