Ranchi: Public representatives have intensified efforts to locate alternative sites for rehabilitating the street vendors of the Morabadi market, who were recently displaced during an anti-encroachment drive conducted by the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC).Mayor Roshni Khalkho and deputy mayor Niraj Kumar conducted a joint inspection at a prospective site near Tagore Hill on Wednesday. The location was proposed by the local ward councillor as a viable solution for the displaced traders. The mayor said, “The site appears to be a good option, especially as the local residents are supportive of welcoming the vendors to the area.”The mayor directed officials to ascertain the ownership of the land. “It is important to clarify if the property falls under the jurisdiction of the RMC, the district administration, or a private entity before initiating further development,” she said.While the Tagore Hill site remains a primary consideration, authorities are exploring other alternatives to help the affected vendors resume their businesses. “The final choice of location will rest entirely with the vendors,” Khalkho said.The eviction took place earlier this month, bringing an abrupt end to the biweekly Morabadi market, which operated on Wednesdays and Saturdays for the past two decades. The anti-encroachment drive triggered widespread resentment, leading to a series of sustained protests by vendor associations, demanding immediate intervention and alternative places to earn their livelihood.Sushma Devi, a farmer from Boreya who used to put her shop at the Morhabadi market said, “We were displaced without any warning or an alternate rehabilitation plan. The least administration can do is provide us a good location were we can earn our livelihood respectfully.”Khalkho stated that securing a safe and sustainable space for the vendors to earn their livelihood remains a top priority for them. “We are working closely with all stakeholders to find the most suitable location for their rehabilitation,” she said.Earlier this week, the mayor also visited Pandra to identify vending zones for the local vendors of Pandra and Ratu Road who have been putting up their shops on the roadside and are feared to be affected by the RMC’s anti-encroachment drive.
Mayor Roshni Khalkho and deputy mayor Niraj Kumar inspected a prospective site near Tagore Hill on Wednesday
Mayor Roshni Khalkho and deputy mayor Niraj Kumar inspected a prospective site near Tagore Hill on Wednesday
