PROPOSAL TO RELOCATE VEGETABLE VENDORS TO SHAHPUR’S OLD MARKET

PROPOSAL TO RELOCATE VEGETABLE VENDORS TO SHAHPUR’S OLD MARKET

14-DEC-ENG 11

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------In Shahpur Nagar Panchayat of Bhojpur district, to alleviate the traffic congestion on National Highway-84 (Arrah-Buxar main road), the elected representatives of the town have submitted a joint application to the Executive Officer (EO), Neshat Alam, requesting the relocation of vegetable vendors, who were displaced due to encroachment removal, to the old market area. This initiative aims to reduce the disorder and traffic disruption caused on the main road.

The Chief Councillor, Deputy Chief Councillor, and all ward councillors of Shahpur Nagar Panchayat have united to demand the permanent relocation of vegetable vendors to the old market area. This demand was made through a signed application submitted to Executive Officer Neshat Alam, emphasizing the need to resolve traffic congestion and ensure proper arrangements for the vegetable vendors in the old market area.

It is worth noting that recently, the municipal administration conducted an anti-encroachment drive on the Arrah-Buxar main road (NH-84). Under this drive, vegetable vendors who had been operating their shops on the roadside for years were removed, thus clearing the unnecessary congestion and traffic obstruction on the road. However, the lack of an alternative and permanent location for these vendors remained a concern. This was affecting their livelihoods, and they were on strike and ready to return to the streets, raising fears of a recurrence of the traffic congestion problem.

To address this problem and keeping the interests of all parties in mind, the representatives of Shahpur Nagar Panchayat, including the Chief Councillor, Deputy Chief Councillor, and all ward councillors, have unanimously prepared and signed an application. This application explicitly demands that Executive Officer Neshat Alam relocate the vegetable vendors to the old market area of ​​the town. The councillors argue that there is sufficient space available in the old market where these vendors can set up their shops in an organized manner. Business owners in the old market believe that this initiative taken by the Chief Councillor, Deputy Chief Councillor, and Councillors is a significant and far-sighted step towards improving the traffic system in Shahpur town, making life easier for the residents, and providing vegetable vendors with a stable and dignified livelihood. They said they would welcome the vegetable vendors if they relocate here. Executive Officer Nishat Alam is expected to seriously consider this public-interest proposal and take the necessary action. If this proposal is successfully implemented, it will not only alleviate the serious traffic congestion problem on the Ara-Buxar main road (NH-84) but also provide vegetable vendors with a safe and permanent business location.

However, some residents and prominent citizens of the town have raised procedural objections to this proposal. They argue that such important decisions, which affect the lives of the entire town, should have been presented as a resolution at the Municipal Council board meeting instead of being directly submitted to the Executive Officer. They contend that passing this proposal unanimously at the board meeting would have ensured greater transparency and public participation in the decision-making process.