In Marol’s Maroshi Road in Andheri East, residents have claimed that vegetable and fruit vendors have taken over the footpath for the last decade
Vegetable and fruit vendors occupy Maroshi Road in Marol
Hawkers encroaching on footpaths is not new, but for a few Marol residents, it has become a nuisance, as most of the time vendors set up their stalls in such a way that the whole footpath is encroached.
In Marol’s Maroshi Road in Andheri East, residents have claimed that vegetable and fruit vendors have taken over the footpath for the last decade.
While most have been adjusting their lives around the stalls, Aziz G Amreliwala, a local resident, has raised an issue over the inconvenience caused to pedestrians. “Though it is a little convenient for us residents to purchase vegetables, it does not justify the encroachment [by the vendors],” said Amreliwala.
Raising the point that the footpath is a very important part of the road infrastructure of the city, Amreliwala questions and says that the vendors should be allotted proper market space by the BMC.
Prarthana Salve (left) and Mehek Joshi. Pics/Madhulika Ram Kavattur
“Encroaching on footpaths, that too on such a narrow lane, does not make sense for anyone. The vendors themselves have to work around the cramped space. Moreover, vehicles are also parked right in front of the stalls, and the pedestrians are forced further onto the road,” he added.
Another local resident, who did not wish to be named, said that they sometimes use other buildings’ areas to avoid walking on the road. “We use the inside route sometimes, but elderly people face difficulty as they can’t get on and off the steps there easily.”
“Hawkers setting up shops [roadside] in South Mumbai, where the footpaths are expansive, makes sense, but ours is such a narrow path,” he added.
While Amreliwala and some others want change, there are a few in the area who are comfortable adjusting their lives around the stalls. Mehek Joshi, a commuter who daily uses the same road, said, “The vendors aren’t causing us any distress directly, and walking on the road for such a short path is not an issue for me. I feel bad for them, as they would have to find alternative places if they are moved by BMC, and it might affect their daily wages.”
Aziz G Amreliwala
Agreeing with Joshi, Prarthana Salve, who commutes with her daily, said, “It has never crossed our mind that this is an issue; we just walk around it and never felt like someone should be changed.”
Pointing out the flaws of adjusting to the situation, Amreliwala said, “Everyone adjusts till something bad happens to them, and once it does, they want to change it; no one thinks proactively and wants to work on finding a solution to the issue.”
mid-day contacted the BMC K East ward to know why no work had been done on the said encroachment but did not receive a reply by the press time.
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