Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 16: Street vendors in commercial city centre of Lal Chowk blocked the main road this morning for several hours after police attempted to remove roadside vendors.
A police party attempted to remove encroachments on the road and sidewalks by the vendors between Regal Chowk and Amira kadal in Lal Chowk this morning triggering protests by the vendors.
The roadside vendors took to streets and blocked the main road using their handcarts and folding beds to protest against the police drive.
The protesters also burnt trash at several places, causing tremendous hardships to people and the movement of traffic was also affected for several hours. Police diverted the traffic through M A Road after the Lal Chowk was blocked by the protesting vendors.
The protestors, however, dispersed after police suspended the drive and allowed the roadside vendors to continue with their business.
The police drive came at a time when business activities started picking up in the summer capital Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
Hundreds of vendors are putting folded beds and hand carts on the foot paths and main road in the city centre every day. This causes major bottle neck for the traffic and it results in traffic jams in the area. Police is illegally allowing the street vendors to occupy footpaths.
The street vendors occupying the foot paths and roads also affects the business of the shopkeepers and the shoppers try to avoid city centre Lal Chowk and its adjoining area due to congestion, traffic jams and parking problems.
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