Vendor woes

KOCHI: Even as the authorities are getting ready to demolish the North Railway Over Bridge, shop owners under the ROB are completely in the dark about the demolishing plans. The vendors say they have not been asked to vacate the land. Authorities including corporation and the district administration  have not issued proper notices about the demolition and plans to shift vendors to another place. About seven months ago they received notice asking them to shift in 15 days . “More than 150 families depend on the 15 licensed shops. After the first notice that we received, we had talks with corporation officials a couple of times but nothing materialised. In all these meetings, the vendors were promised alternative arrangements under the Pullepady railway over bride or in Irumbanam bridge. But nothing worked out,” said Vyapari Vyavasayi Samithi Ernakulam area president T V Santhosh, who runs a  motor spare parts shop under the ROB. In the last meeting held in July with officials from Kochi corporation, RBDC and DMRC, the vendors were promised facilities for relocation. “We were promised to be relocated under the Pullepady over bridge after constructing shops. But we have not yet received any written promise. Unless we get a proper place, we will not move from here. We are not against the ROB demolition, but we need place for setting up our shops,” he added. The shop owners said that the Corporation has asked them to shut down their shops till the construction at Pullepady over bridge is complete. However the vendors have suggested that they should be provided with temporary space till the construction is over. “The corporation officials have informed us that they would decide upon giving compensation. But we have not received any notification. Most shop owners here have taken loans from banks and Vyapari Vyavasayi Samathi and other agencies for business,” the shop owners said.“Our business will be affected if we move from here. But we are ready to shift if proper space is allotted. Most of these shops are operating here for more than 25 years. Here we have a market atmosphere which supports our business,” said V M Ali, another shop owner.