The Times of India            13.12.2013

Civic body acts tough on vendors in Chauta Bazaar

SURAT: Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has asked the roadside vendors in the city's oldest Chauta Bazaar to vacate the market by December 15.

The central zone officials on Thursday pasted notices at various locations in the market warning the vendors of action if they fail to vacate the lanes.

The SMC had started the exercise of making city's oldest bazaar free from hawkers and roadside vendors 20 days ago.

Chauta Bazaar, which is also known as 'women's market', has a presence of over 2,000 pavement vendors and it remains crowded throughout the day. However, most of the upmarket customers prefer shopping malls to Chauta Bazaar as they have to wriggle their way out of the crowded streets.

Surat General Hospital, the oldest hospital in Chauta Bazaar, was on the verge of closing down its emergency and other medical services as there was not enough parking space for its ambulance and other vehicles, sources said.

Chauta Bazaar's history dates back to early 1700s. The present day Mota Mandir in Chauta was known as Vaishnao Haveli (temple).

Women folks visiting the temple would go shopping for utensils, clothes, cosmetics, grocery and other day-to-day household goods at the shops in the vicinity. These shops were owned by Vaishnao traders.

At present, Chauta Bazaar houses over 800 retail shops. The colourful boards of the retail outlets have been shrouded behind huge tarpaulin and makeshift roofs of pavement vendors. "We have pasted notices at the main spots in the entire market asking the vendors to vacate latest by December 15,After that we plan to remove them with the help of policemen," a senior SMC officer said.

Nitin Thakar, BJP councillor from Sonifalia-Gopipura ward, said, "The oldest commercial marketplace lost its charm when the vendors started encroaching the pavements three decades ago. Today, it is difficult to even ride a bicycle because of hawkers.

It is a wise decision on the part of the civic authorities to clear the market of hawkers."