the goan I network
MARGAO
With the Gandhi market vendors demanding a crack down on all roadside vendors from the city, Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai on Friday had a meeting with representatives of the vendors from the hilly regions of Quepem and Canacona with a view to review their activities near the police station/old bus stand area.
These vendors, who sell the local produce grown in the hilly areas, occupy the roadside in front of the Margao police station, attracting droves of customers from the city almost every day. Incidentally, while these vendors were promised a dedicated space in the city to sell their produce around a decade and half ago, the promise has only remained on paper, leaving the vendors, hailing from the Scheduled Tribe community, with no option than to sell their produce from the roadside.
Sources said the MMC chairperson told the representatives of the vendors to restrict their activity during the school peak hours, between 1 pm to 2 pm, by shutting shop to avoid traffic snarls on the police station road. The vendors were also requested to convince the customers to park their vehicles away from the road and come walking for the purchase to avoid traffic
congestion.
Sources said the MMC is not averse in allowing these vendors to occupy a portion of the old bus stand near the horticulture stall on condition that they will sell only seasonal fruits and vegetables and will come to the city only during the season time.
Sources said the MMC is expected to inspect the old bus stand to explore the possibility of the vendors being shifted from the roadside to the old bus stand to avoid traffic snarls on the main police station road.
