Temporary shops only up to Diwali

THE DISPUTE over putting up temporary shops inside New Market was sorted out on Monday following the intervention of the district Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Surendranath Singh. The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) will now allow these temporary shops at certain locations inside New Market only till Diwali.

The dispute over putting up temporary shops in New Market has been going on over the past two days. Meanwhile, BMC authorities also continued its anti-encroachment drive in New Market. A team of BMC’s anti-encroachment cell was pressed to check encroachments inside New Market. The removal of encroachments around Hanuman Mandir and other adjoining areas provided sufficient space to shoppers on Monday.

BMC administration allowed setting up temporary shops at some locations in New Market. Earlier, district BJP president Surendranath Singh urged BMC commissioner Manish Singh to allow temporary shops at some places only till Diwali. On his request, BMC and police officials along with corporator Anil Agrawal visited New Market to select the site for putting up such temporary shops. However, no shop would be allowed around Hanuman Mandir. Agrawal said putting up such temporary shops was necessary due to the festive season.

When asked, BMC commissioner Manish Singh said temporary shops would be allowed at the places where crowd movement was low. Shops blocking roads would not be allowed, he added. Singh also said no hand carts would be allowed inside New Market.