Hawker-check appeal for Darjeeling streets

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 18 Jan 2019: Darjeeling: Darjeeling municipality chairperson Prativa Tamang Rai has appealed to "political parties and other organisations" not to encourage hawkers in the town.

"I would appeal to all political parties and various organisations not to hold a brief for hawkers. We have unemployed people but does that mean we should allow homeless people to construct houses at Chowrasta? Let us not indulge in vote-bank politics on this issue," Rai said after completing a year in office.

The appeal by the Gorkha Janumkti Morcha leader is significant as hawkers have virtually overrun the hill town, from Chowk Bazar to Orient Line to the Mall area. "In Darjeeling, it is difficult to walk around town," said a resident.

In a sense, Thursdays are days of delight as it allows unobstructed walking. "After we took charge of the civic body, we have decided, after suggestions from residents, not to allow hawkers to set shop on Thursdays," said Rai.

Most markets in the town close on Thursdays but the streets until recently used to be cluttered with hawkers who, unlike the regular shops, did not take weekly offs.

Rai said a staircase to a market complex would be built on the Popular Pharmacy building in Darjeeling. "We want to shift the registered hawkers from the Mall to this place," Rai said.

The civic body will build an A hawker-free street in Darjeeling overbridge on the road to Loreto Convent. "Slowly, we want to create earmarked walking spaces in Darjeeling town. We will not allow hawkers on Nehru Road (leading to the Chowrasta). Raids will be conducted," Rai said.

Footpaths in Darjeeling are narrow and many areas in the town do not have any. Walking is a nightmare, except on Thursdays.

If the civic body is successful in its endeavours, it would be music to the ears of many.

"Locals and tourists prefer to walk in Darjeeling but they cannot walk freely. Policymakers should look at making Darjeeling a pedestrian-friendly town," said a resident.