Date:10/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/10/stories/2008081050200100.htm

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Vendors corner space below new flyover

R. Sujatha

— PHOTO: K.V. SRINIVASAN

HAWKERS AGAIN: Encroachments along the road margins of Usman Road flyover are expected to be removed soon.

CHENNAI: The Usman Road flyover is almost ready for use but residents, pedestrians and commuters continue to battle for space with vendors. Most of the old vendors have been replaced by new ones.

With temporary structures being removed, the vendors have found novel ways to hawk their wares. They have placed wooden pegs in the crevices along the supporting walls of the flyover and hung clothesline on which bags and clothes are displayed. The newly laid pavements have been converted into hawking zones.

The pavements on either side of the flyover have been re-laid and encroachments removed, in preparation for the inauguration of the flyover on Thursday. But, it is proving to be a tough battle for the Chennai Corporation.

While residents remain soft on the vendors, shops on many streets are aggressively preventing commuters from parking their vehicles outside them. Mayor M. Subramanian visited the area on Saturday morning and reprimanded vendors who had set up shop. After he left the shops were back, doing brisk business. Mr. Subramanian said in the next couple of days the vendors would be removed.