HDMC shifts vegetable vendors into renovated Janata Bazar

Hubballi: The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) finally managed to clear Janata Bazar Road by relocating vegetable vendors into the renovated Janata Bazar premises.After the reopening of the upgraded market, officials struggled for months to move vendors off the roadside and into designated internal spaces, largely because the auction process for allotting stalls and vending spots received a poor response.With limited participation, many vendors were reluctant to commit to the new arrangements, and the roadside trade continued despite repeated efforts by HDMC officials.The situation persisted since the demolition of the decades-old Janata Bazar structure. In the absence of an organised market space, vegetable vendors ran their businesses along the road, turning the busy stretch into an informal marketplace.This created frequent traffic bottlenecks, slowed down vehicular movement, and increased the risk of minor accidents, especially during peak hours. Pedestrians were among the worst-affected, as footpaths and walking space were often encroached upon, forcing people, mainly women and senior citizens, to step onto the road amid heavy traffic.By allocating space within the renovated premises, HDMC provided vendors with a more structured and secure location to operate, while also restoring the road to its intended use. The move is expected to ease congestion, improve pedestrian safety, and bring better order to the renovated Janata Bazar market. Around 180 street vendors shifted inside the Janata Bazar premises in Hubballi, according to sources in HDMC, while some vendors still did not shift, and officials decided to move them into the premises as well.Rudresh Ghali, commissioner, HDMC, said they requested vegetable vendors to shift their stalls inside the premises of the renovated Janata Bazar building. He said the kattas inside Janata Bazar were auctioned because street vendors, who ran their business on the sides of roads, were reluctant to commence their business."With the shifting of street vendors inside the Janata Bazar premises, now gradually the utilisation of the renovated Janata Bazar structure will gain momentum," he said.He also said they were working to free the roads surrounding the renovated Janata Bazar to increase footfall to the market.