Following the demolition of the old gate at Sri Krishna Rajendra
Market (SKRM), panic gripped footpath vendors on Sethuram Road situated
at the west gate of K R Market.

The hawkers fear that they will now be evicted anytime by the BBMP.

According
to the traders, the Palike officials used excavators and brought down
the grill fencing on Monday. However, only part of the grill on one side
of the footpath was razed.

“From 8.30pm, they began the
demolition as we stood helpless. They did not listen to us even as some
of us protested. We were told by officials that the road would be
widened. Had they informed us earlier, we would have shifted to some
other place. Where will we go, if they evict us from here?,” asked fruit
vendor Mohammed Shah.

Another vendor Kalaiselvi said no notice
was given to them about the demolition activity. “We are planning
protests in the coming days if they tell us to move from here,” she
said.

Apart from the grill, an old structure on the left side of
the market was also demolished. Meanwhile, members of the K R Market
Flower Merchants’ Association maintained that they were unaware of the
activity undertaken by the Corporation on Monday.

President of the
association GM Divakar said, “The grill separates Avenue Road from
Sethuram Road. But we are clueless as to why the decision was taken by
the Palike to increase the width of Sethuram Road as it is already
broad.”

‘Eviction Inevitable’

BBMP officials told Express
that they had to evict the hawkers to widen the road. “There is a big
traffic problem there. To clear traffic, this decision had been taken.
Regarding informing the vendors, the Palike did not find it necessary as
they are staying illegally on BBMP’s property,” they said.