KMC strikes agreement with hawkers, make city pavements clean

Kolkata, Mar 23 (UNI) Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Bikash Bhattacharya today said an agreement has been reached with the hawkers to keep city pavements clean and free.

Speaking at a seminar on 'Image building of Kolkata' organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Bhattacharya ruled out the possibility of removing the hawkers permanently from the city roads.

''No cities in the world had been capable of achieving that goal. So we have to live with them,'' he said.

According to the agreement the hawkers would not be allowed on the carriage ways, he said.

'' The hawkers will not be blocking the roads within 50 feet of the main junctions of the city. They have to keep 2-3 of the space free for the pedestrians,'' he added.

The hawkers would not be able to construct any permanent structure on the pavements, he added.

''KMC is planning to change the face of Kolkata. Not only the hawkers, we would also take off the rickshaws from the city roads and try to upgrade the living standards of the slum dwellers,'' he added.

UNI JYN KK VD RS1958