72 days on, evicted street vendors at Puri Grand Road stand firm with prolonged dharna

Street vendors at Badadanda (Grand Road) in Puri have persistently held a sit-in protest for 72 consecutive days, demanding a designated area to carry out their business. The vendors have expressed dissatisfaction with the local administration's inaction, on Monday.

Under the previous government, there was an assurance to the street vendors to allocate organised spaces beneath Shree Setu (flyover) for the displaced street vendors. However, no progress has been made in this regard, posing difficulties for the vendors to continue their trade at the promised location, some of the marginal traders alleged.

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Besides, the vendors demanded a temporary solution, allowing them to trade at Badadanda until permanent arrangements are made at the under-flyover space.

“Space, which is temporarily being provided, is entirely unsuitable for business purposes. A vendor would not be able to sell products of even Rs 20 in a day. Rather, for the time being, we should be allowed to carry out our business at Badadanda,” an agitating vendor said.

“Demarcated place should instead be promoted and bus stand be shifted to the other side. So that, prevalent road congestion can be well managed, thereby facilitating higher tourist footfall in Puri. Doing business there would then only be possible,” the street vendor added.

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“We had supported the Srimandir Parikrama project and vacated Badadanda. The previous government had assured us to make alternate arrangements within two months. However, nearly 14 months have passed since then and we are sitting idle,” another vendor stated.

“We were committed to be provided with assistance money during the interim period till things are settled and an alternate arrangement is made, but not a single rupee has been paid to us so far,” the protestor expressed.

As of now, the district administration has not issued an official statement.