Garments market near Kunal Crossroads shut down after safety, encroachment concerns
The market, once a hotspot for shoppers — especially during Navratri when garba revellers flocked in large numbers — came under scrutiny after residents from a nearby locality raised objections. The tipping point was an alleged incident of harassment involving youths from the market and a local girl.
Originally set up as a temporary market during festive seasons, the stalls had become a permanent fixture. While shoppers from the western parts of the city initially relied on areas like Navabazar in the old city, the market near Kunal Crossroads had grown in popularity in recent years.
BJP leader Rajesh Ayre took up the matter, citing illegal encroachment. The civic body's fire department also issued a notice, citing lack of fire safety measures despite high footfalls. Additionally, the Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation (GETCO) raised objections, as part of the market was situated beneath high-tension power lines.
Following a joint survey by VMC and VUDA, vendors were warned to vacate. On Saturday, when civic officials arrived to carry out the eviction, vendors resisted. "We paused the drive for an hour as the vendors wanted to make representations. However, they later demanded a 10-day postponement. Some women even lay in front of our machinery," said Mangesh Jaiswal, VMC's director of encroachment removal and security.
Police were called in to assist, and the operation went ahead, resulting in the removal of approximately 100 vendors from the site.
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