Guwahati: The eviction of street vendors from key stretches of Fancy Bazar has sparked protests in Guwahati, with nearly 200 vendors taking to the streets on Wednesday, September 9, demanding that the administration reconsider the eviction and allow them to resume their businesses.
According to an application dated September 4, the vendors said the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) had stopped them from opening their roadside shops from September 1. They sought permission to resume vending along H.B. Road, from Khubchand Chariali to Sikh Mandir Police Point Chariali, and appealed for intervention to safeguard their livelihoods.
As part of their efforts to seek political intervention, the protesting vendors also gathered near the residence of MLA Vijay Kumar Gupta, hoping to meet him and submit the application requesting permission to reopen their shops.
However, the vendors claimed that Gupta did not meet them and that they were consequently unable to submit the application to him. One of the vendors reportedly said they had gone to meet the MLA but could not meet anyone.
The situation later turned tense near Sharma Sweets on H.B. Road, where around 200 people reportedly gathered and confronted local ward councillor Pramod Swami. The situation allegedly escalated when some members of the crowd attempted to assault him. Police reached the spot and intervened, subsequently taking the councillor away from the area for his safety.
The protest followed the enforcement of no-vending restrictions on M.S. Road and H.B. Road from September 1, as the administration stepped up efforts to address traffic congestion, encroachment and pedestrian movement in the busy commercial area.
The eviction has left several roadside vendors without a place to continue their businesses. Traders have argued that their shops are their primary source of income and have sought designated vending spaces as an alternative to eviction.
The Guwahati Municipal Corporation has identified 81 vending zones across the city, although these have not yet been fully operationalised. A fresh survey of vendors is also underway, with authorities examining possible locations for designated vending areas.
The vendors have maintained that they understand the administration’s concerns over traffic congestion and pedestrian movement but want their livelihood concerns to be considered alongside enforcement measures.
They are now seeking intervention from the administration and elected representatives for a solution that addresses traffic and pedestrian concerns while allowing displaced vendors to continue earning their livelihoods.