With the civic body allowing shops in the city to operate from 7 am to 2 pm, hawkers, too, have got a chance to sell their wares on footpaths as citizens emerge to shop. In addition, with non-essential products allowed to be sold on alternate days based on the location of shops, the vacant side is being occupied by hawkers.

The retailers’ association has said that hawkers occupy the vacant side of streets and on some streets, both sides