It's a 141 years old and one of Kolkata's best known landmarks. But shopkeepers of the New Market are so plagued by a spurt in the number of hawkers in the area that they will down the shutters for 72 hours starting tomorrow morning.
Members of 9 different shop owner or keepers' associations are angry at the encroachment into public spaces around the New Market which, they say, is inconveniencing customers and driving them away to newer malls.
"Hawkers encroach into public areas, making things very difficult for customers," said Mr Raj Metharamani, an association member.
Another association member, Sushil Jasnani, said that their"We are not against hawkers. We don't want a confrontation. We just want the civic body to regulate them so customers are comfortable."
Hawkers are equally upset with the shopkeepers and are asking why they have suddenly raised the issue. The hawkers say that they have been around for generations in the New Market area and follow the strict guidelines laid down by the municipal authorities.
The shoppers agreed that there were two sides of the story.
Another customer, Allen said "I have nothing against the hawkers. I buy stuff from them all the time. But while everyone can do their business, there has to be discipline".
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