HAWKING – A BOON OR A MENACE ?
The recent proposal of creating more than 150 hawking zones within Nashik municipal area, has become a cause for concern in the minds of people living in already congested localities. Hopefully the proposal will consider several pros and cons associated with hawking before its implementation.
Hawking is not new to any city. The desire of a hawker to make a living by selling utility products and deliver them at the doorstep or in the locality of customers is understandable, in fact many of us prefer having products meant for day to day consumption as close to our homes as possible. After all, flea markets have been in existence since ages in many towns and cities of the world. Hawkers let the consumers have the pleasure of examining the offered goods in a leisurely manner and also let them enjoy the pleasure of bargaining. The relationship between hawkers and customers in a way is unique. Over the years, they develop trust in each other, leading to some people buying goods from one particular hawker for years.
With the expanding population concentrating in towns and cities, the downside of the hawking system is being witnessed in cities like Pune and Mumbai and with the growth Nashik is witnessing; the day is not far off, when the same downside will be witnessed in Nashik too. Thus the already shrinking space for pedestrians is encroached upon by hawkers, many a time extending to footpaths. Their shouting and yelling to attract customers, causes disturbance to surrounding residential areas, this initially creates irritation and gradually becomes a friction point in the locality. These hawkers many a times extend their operating territory beyond earmarked for them, thus causing obstacles in smooth flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, especially during peak hours. Many a times it is witnessed that petty crime rate increases in areas where hawking population is on the rise and is not controlled effectively thus leading to law and order problems.
In Nashik excessive congregation of hawkers leading to routine arguments thus creating friction is not new. Areas like D’ Souza Colony, areas around various circles on Gangapur Road, near Kulkarni Garden, near Rajiv Gandhi Bhuvan, in Tidke colony, on College Road, Sharanpur Road etc. which has high traffic density and also has substantial presence of hawkers often are impediment to smooth flow of traffic and many times result in avoidable vehicular accidents often leading to injuries to pedestrians.
So there are pros and cons for this hawking proposal. What if we have an ideal middle path? Yes the solution exists. Suyojit has understood this problem and will be developing a commercial area within its prestigious Viridian Vallis project, where residents can have the best of both worlds. Hawkers within the limits and yet far away from your home. Convenience without the irritation.
Come be a part of this riverfront project, soon to become the most sought after address to stay in Nashik. Viridian Vallis – this is how all the future real estate development will be.
