Vendors choke Baramulla town roads; authorities’ inaction infuriates people

Baramulla, Aug 24: Enter Baramulla town, and one is greeted by street vendors displaying their goods from vegetables to fruits on carts spread all along the roads.

Right from the Tehsil Road towards the Main Chowk, and then from the Main Chowk towards the bus stand in both directions, as well as Noor-ul-Huda Market, there is hardly an inch of space left unoccupied by vendors.

The vegetable and fruit pushcarts have now taken up nearly half of the road meant for vehicular movement, often resulting in massive traffic jams.

The pavements along the main road in the town are also encroached upon, as shopkeepers extend their merchandise onto the sidewalks, leaving little or no space for pedestrians.

The concerned residents of Baramulla town say that the once vibrant town has now turned into a messy and chaotic place.

They said that with each passing week, the number of vendors is multiplying manifold since there is no initiative from the authorities to act against this lawlessness.

“In the absence of any intervention from the authorities, more and more vendors are encouraged to encroach upon the pavements and roads. As a result, the lives of ordinary residents have turned miserable,” said Ali Muhammad, a local.

He said that the silence of the administration had angered people, who now feel that there is no rule of law governing the functioning of street vendors in the town.

Advocating for a separate and organised space for vendors, locals said that the Baramulla district administration had earlier identified a dedicated spot for them, but never implemented the proposal.

“What happened to the circular issued by the administration a few years ago that asked vendors to relocate to the designated area?” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a shopkeeper on Tehsil Road.

“Even these vendors were warned that if they failed to shift to the designated area, strict action would be taken against them. However, years have passed and the administration has not implemented its own decision, showing a complete lack of seriousness in addressing this growing menace,” he said.

Lashing out at the authorities for their failure to address the town’s basic civic issues, another resident, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, pointed out that even the approach road to the hospital, as well as the highway near the hospital entrance, remains clogged with vehicles.

“It is extremely difficult to carry patients to the hospital under such conditions,” he said.

Bhat said that despite a few policemen being deployed in the area, the situation remains unchanged as passenger vehicles continue to halt at will, creating congestion.

Urging the authorities to chalk out a comprehensive strategy to address these persistent civic problems, locals here said that unless proper spaces are provided for street vendors and strict enforcement is ensured, Baramulla town would continue to suffer from traffic chaos, blocked pavements, and growing public frustration.