Besant Road clears after eviction of falconers

A day after municipal officials started the eviction process, Besant Road wears a deserted look in Vijayawada on Wednesday. | Photo credit: KVS Giri

A day after hawkers without valid sale certificates were evicted, Besant Road in Vijayawada, once crammed with carts, vehicles and customers, wore a deserted look on Wednesday.

Many pushcarts, which occupied the center of the narrow road and caused frequent traffic jams, were removed, allowing vehicles to move freely.

While the road finally got space and offered hope to the shop owners who filed a PIL in the AP High Court last year seeking action against the illegal vendors, many small vendors lamented the loss of livelihood.

The eviction proceedings follow a February 2026 Supreme Court order directing the Commissioner of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) to ensure that only licensed vendors are allowed to operate on Besant Road.

According to VMC Town Planning Department officials, only 90 of the 257 vendors identified on the road were in possession of valid vending certificates.

The VMC issued show-cause notices to the vendors in April and gave them 30 days to respond in accordance with the AP Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Rules, 2017. In June, eviction orders were issued ordering them to vacate the road within three days.

However, the civic body was busy with the implementation of International Yoga Day programs last month, giving more time to the vendors. On July 6, officials verbally asked them to move to CK Reddy Road near Old Government General Hospital, which had been designated as an alternative sales zone.

When the vendors refused to relocate, the eviction began on July 7 amid protests by vendors and union leaders. According to officials, 140 hawkers were evicted on Tuesday.

Parvathi, who has been selling lemons on Besant Road for the past 30 years, was among those asked to relocate. As a widow, she is yet to receive a pension and depends on her daily earnings of ₹400 to ₹500 to support her family.

“I have been asked to move to CK Reddy Road where there is no market. I will not earn even half of what I earn here,” she said.

Like Parvathi, several other shopkeepers refused to switch fearing a sharp drop in their income.

A clothing shop owner, who requested anonymity, said the business had suffered greatly due to insufficient parking space and persistent traffic jams caused by roadside outlets.

“We just hope it doesn’t come back after a few days. If it doesn’t, our business can finally get back on track,” the shop owner said.

Published – 8 Jul 2026 22:52 IST