Hyderabad: Hawkers who were allowed to do business around the Charminar during the month of Ramzan have spread into the pedestrian zone. It is learnt that a special drive will be starting very soon to free the pedestrian zone from hawkers and vendors.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in coordination with the police department plans to relocate the vendors as part of the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project (CPP).
The Hyderabad Road Development Corporation Limited (HRDCL) which is building two bridges over the Musi river will accommodate fruit vendors on one bridge and hawkers on the other.
The HRDCL has submitted a detailed report of the project estimated to cost Rs 231.5 crore.
Associations of vendors and hawkers have moved the High Court challenging their relocation.
Police and GHMC had succeeded in pushing them back and making space for visitors, but during Ramzan they were temporarily allowed to do business around the Charminar till Eid. Three months on, they continue to occupy every inch of free space in the immediate vicinity of the historic monument.
There were festivals back to back in these past three months and police say they could not take action against the hawkers and vendors. But ACP Traffic G Naganna said they will be removed very soon.
