Vijayawada: Vendors are alleging that the night food court stalls arranged at the IGMC Grounds are being allotted to local hotel owners, and to some influential persons including police personnel.
The initiative taken up by the VMC and police department to start the night food courts was aimed at serving the needs of people working night shifts and travellers reaching the city late, as Vijayawada is well connected and passengers alighting at both railway and bus stations 24x7. Adding to the night-time visitors are people going to the CM’s office and the government HoDs who have now shifted to the new capital.
The night food courts were able to attract the attention of city dwellers and they soon started generating huge revenue. This attracted the attention of hotel owners and some government officials who are said to have started their own stalls.
Vendors complain that the government officials and some employees in the police department have managed to get the stalls on fake names. “Poor vendors who are thriving hard for the livelihood are not considered,” said one.
The vendors say that the stalls in the food courts are allotted by the police department directly and the department is being leaned on by some “big persons” to allot the stalls without the interference of the VMC.
“There are lots of vendors in the city who are surviving on food stalls. Night food stalls are allotted to the new vendors whom we have not seen earlier on the city roads. A majority of the stalls have workers working for daily wages,” said Ramanaiah, a vendor.
“No intimation is given before the stalls are allotted and those vendors who applied for the stall are being ignored. I am afraid of complaining, as some stalls are owned by police personnel on fake names,” said Bhaskar, a vendor at Governerpet.
“I request the officials to recheck the allotment and allot the stalls to the poor vendors who are struggling to earn their livelihood,” said Sreenu, a vendor.
