Citizens, corporators oppose hawking zones

Mumbai: Opposition to hawking zones demarcated by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been growing with corporators and citizens venting their ire against the proposed sites, where hawkers would be allowed. They have demanded that hawking zones earmarked in their areas should be scrapped.

The civic body has demarcated 85,891 hawking zones on 1366 roads in the city. However, at several places, citizens have been up in arms against the BMC’s decision to allow hawking zones in their neighbourhood.

Shiv Sena corporator Amey Ghole from Wadala has written a letter to the civic chief Ajoy Mehta asking him to keep the area free from hawkers. “The BMC has proposed hawking pitches on roads in Sewri-Wadala scheme, DV Pradhan Road, Deodhar Road, Indulal Buwa Marg, Khareghat Road, Swami Dyanjivandas Marg, Mancherji Joshi Marg, Tilak Road in my ward. If hawking is allowed on these roads, it would be unfair on the part of citizens staying there,” he said.

“Due to hawking pitches, citizens will not be able to utilise footpaths for walking. Parking issue will rise as the roads are narrow in these areas. The traffic problem will also rise due to a large number of vehicles on the roads. It would also lead to cleanliness and hygiene issues,” he said.

The civic body in a list of hawking pitches has marked 96 pitches on Mancherji Edalji Joshi road. The members of Mancherji Edalji Joshi Colony Residents Association (MEJCRA) have said that BMC’s list looks like the same list, which was formed a couple of years back.

Zarine Engineer, a senior resident from the Parsi Colony, said, “We are not against hawkers but having them in a residential area was unacceptable. Ours is a completely residential area, and there are schools and a fire temple in the vicinity where the pitches are marked.”

A senior civic official said, “We have sought public feedback on the hawking pitches within a month. The final decision will be taken by the town vending committee.”