Baramulla, June 25: Street vendors in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town are causing inconvenience to pedestrians, commuters and public transport due to their unauthorised occupation of roadside areas in key locations.
The absence of designated parking spaces aggravates the problem, leaving roadsides crowded with parked vehicles.
Main Chowk Baramulla, popularly known as Four Way, is particularly affected, where street vendors congest the area used by public transport for passenger pick-ups and drop-offs, leading to traffic disruptions and hazards for pedestrians.
Numerous vendors have set up their carts illegitimately along roadsides and even in the middle of roads leading to the General Bus Stand, creating further difficulties for commuters and pedestrians alike.
Farhan Lone, a local, expressed concern over the situation, saying, “Overcrowding poses a safety threat to everyone using the road as it becomes difficult to navigate. Instead of 5 minutes, it takes 15 minutes to reach the General Bus Stand from Main Chowk, whether on foot or by vehicle. The situation worsens during morning and evening hours.”
The roadsides of Tehsil Road, PWD Road, and Noor-ul-Huda Market are similarly congested, with street vendors and parked vehicles creating a hazardous environment.
A local health sector worker, who requested anonymity, expressed her frustration, saying, “Excessive crowds often make me late for work. There should be a designated place for vendors to avoid such issues. The road is too busy during peak hours, making it accident-prone.”
Despite an order from the Municipal Council Baramulla on April 18, 2024, mandating the relocation of all street vendors to Tashkan Adda (Kokar Bazar) and General Bus Stand Baramulla, the situation remains unresolved.
The order, signed by Chief Executive Officer Noveed Ajaz Khan, warned vendors against setting up their carts outside designated areas, threatening a fine of Rs 2,000 for violations.
However, implementation on the ground has been lacking. Tashkan Adda, the designated area for street vendors, remains congested due to parked vehicles.
The CEO acknowledged the issue and assured action within the next 15 days. “We have decided to relocate the vendors and are identifying enough space. Baramulla will witness change soon,” he said.
Addressing the congestion at Tashkan Adda, Khan added, “We are trying to identify the patch near Azad Gunj Bridge and Uri Adda to relocate parked vehicles.”
Residents and commuters have expressed hope that the promised changes will bring relief and restore order to Baramulla’s busy streets.
