The Times of India         26.11.2013

Surat's oldest bazaar to get facelift

SURAT: For the first time in three decades, Chauta Bazaar, the oldest commercial market place in the Walled City will get a facelift.

Authorities at the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) have given an ultimatum to the hawkers and roadside vendors clogging the lanes in the oldest bazaar from the last many years to vacate latest by December 15 or face action.

Chauta Bazaar remains crowded throughout the day with the presence of over 2,000 pavement vendors. Also known as 'women's market', most of the upmarket customers prefer shopping malls to Chauta Bazaar as they have to wriggle their way out in the crowded streets.

Even the Surat Charity Fund trust that runs the oldest hospital in Chauta Bazaar - Surat General Hospital - were on the verge of closing down the emergency and other medical services as there was not enough space for parking and ambulance services due to the presence of pavement vendors.

Chauta Bazaar's history dates back to early 1700s. The present day Mota Mandir in Chauta was known as Vaishnao Haveli - Haveli means temple. There were shops surrounding the Haveli where the women folks visiting the temple would go shopping for utensils, clothes, cosmetics, grocery and other day-to-day household goods. All the shops were owned by the Vaishnao traders.

At present, Chauta Bazaar houses more than 800 retail shops. The colourful boards of the retail outlets have been shrouded behind huge tarpaulin and makeshift roofs of the pavement vendors.

Shailesh Vaishnav, a shop owner in Chauta bazaar said, "We could expect to expand our business to more elite customers once the pavement vendors are evicted from here. We are suffering our business from all these years due to the street vendors"

Nitin Devprasad Thakar is the owner of Joshi Jaishanker Dhanji Bhajiawala Joshi located in the middle of Chauta Bazaar. The shop known for its mouth-watering bhajias and farsan was set up by his great grand father in 1900.

Talking to TOI, Nitin Thakar, BJP councilor from Sonifalia-Gopipura ward said, "The oldest commercial marketplace lost its charm when the hawkers and roadside vendors started encroaching the pavements some three decades ago. Today, it is difficult to even ride a bicycle due to the huge presence of the hawkers. It is a wise decision on the part of civic authorities to clear the market of the hawkers"

Sunil Bhukhanwala, secretary of Surat General hospital said, "Pavement vendors in Chauta Bazaar are the biggest hurdle in the development of the hospital. We can run ambulance as the streets are clogged with vendors. Now that the SMC has decided to vacate the pavement vendors, people in the walled city could hope for better medical services"

City engineer Jatin Shah told TOI, "We are determined to evict the pavement vendors from Chauta Bazaar before December 15. There will be enough space for the vehicles and the pedestrians"

However, the pavement vendors have a different story to narrate.

Urvashi, a pavement vendor selling women's accessories, said, "We are paying yearly rent ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 to the retail shop owners for doing business in front of their shops. They (retail shops) will lose on their yearly income. We will set up our stalls somewhere else"

Part II: Women shoppers' delight

While vehicle drivers and pedestrians may rejoice at the sight of the empty roads at Chauta Bazaar after December 15, it would present a sad sight to a huge section of women shoppers. The crowded place with over 2000 shops lined up along the pavements provide a variety fare for women of all age groups to pick up latest accessories or dresses at affordable prices.

"I have picked up over hundreds of items from these roadside shops over the last three decades and about 70 per cent of them were of good quality," avers 55-year-old Sheila Joshi. "In the absence of pavement vendors, it would be difficult for us to get cheap goods" she adds.

Goods wrapped in green and blue tarpaulin sheets, secured with ropes, this is a typical scene every morning at Chauta Bazaar. But after 9 am, the street comes to life with its eye-catching wares from all over like white metal jewellery, bindis, footwear, plastic goods for the home, snacks, etc.

The joy of walking up and down the pavements, bargaining and shopping, is unique for many. A visit to this part of town was a must on everyone's list of 'things to do ahead of a big event in the family'.

For those little knick-knacks such as safety pins, rubber bands, glass bangles and handkerchiefs, this was 'the' place to shop!

"I am going to miss those bargains with the vendors" says college student Pooja Shah, who had come to shop here.