Team Goemkarponn
Canacona: Taking strong cognisance of safety concerns caused by street trading near the municipal office at Chaudi, the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) on Tuesday removed all roadside traders and relocated them to the municipal market complex.
The action was carried out by CMC staff in the presence of Chairperson Laxuman Pagui and Chaudi ward councillor Ramakant Naik Gaunkar, who supervised the shifting of traders and their goods from the roadside to the nearby market complex.
According to Pagui, traders operating on the road in front of the Vernekar building had been posing a serious safety risk, as motorists often stopped in the middle of the road to purchase goods, leading to traffic congestion and potential accidents.
“The traders were repeatedly asked to shift to the municipal market complex and submit applications to conduct their business there. However, despite directions, they continued trading on the road and not a single application was filed seeking space in the vegetable market complex,” Pagui said.
He added that the civic body had issued an appeal nearly a month ago asking traders to relocate voluntarily, but the request received no response. The chairperson and ward councillor also questioned the traders about who would take responsibility if an accident occurred due to the roadside trading before ordering their immediate relocation.
The municipal market complex, constructed nearly a decade ago by the CMC at a cost of over ₹6 crore, had remained largely underutilised. Although a few vegetable and flower vendors operated on the ground floor, many traders preferred to sell their goods on the roadside, citing better customer access.
With all traders now moved into the complex, vendors already operating there expressed satisfaction, saying customers would now have to visit the market as all traders would be located at a single place.
Caption: CMC staff shift goods of street traders from Chaudi road in the presence of CMC Chairperson Laxuman Pagui and Chaudi ward councillor Ramakant Naik Gaunkar.
