Cost of a turf war in Vijayawada’s Besant Road Premium

Besant Road in Vijayawada faces a cold war between shop owners and hawkers, leading to congestion and tension.

From a vantage point, Besant Road in the evenings resembles a viscous stream of dense crowds. Shouts of hawkers pierce the din of the busy market but most fail to draw the attention of the milling passersby.

As one acclimatises to the street’s vibe, a peculiar pattern emerges. Every shop along the 700-metre road has a banner, hanging from awnings or stuck to doors, with the slogan, “Save Besant Road”, written in large, block letters. On the other hand, on every hawker cart hangs a card with the message: “It’s not fair to deprive the poor of their livelihood”, written in Telugu. At times, shopkeepers and hawkers exchange wary glances at each other.

The banners and cards are part of a cold war brewing between shop owners and hawkers on Besant Road, one of the busiest and most lucrative shopping centres in Vijayawada. The former blame the hawkers for “encroaching” on the road and chipping away at their business while the latter highlight their right to livelihood. Even amidst the feverish energy of the road, an undercurrent of tension between the two groups sticks out like a sore thumb.

Considered an asset of the city, the road used to be the go-to place for residents and visitors to Vijayawada. Its proximity to the Vijayawada Railway Station and Pandit Nehru Bus Station, both around 1.5 km away, helped it attract many customers.

For many, Besant Road is a sentiment. “It’s where we used to go for a stroll after watching a movie. One could find everything, from pens worth Rs.10 to clothes worth Rs.2,000,” recalls M. Raju, a photographer from Visakhapatnam.

According to shop owners, there are around 200-250 shops on the road, providing direct and indirect employment to approximately 8,000 people, including owners, cleaners, workers and security guards.

As for hawkers, there are 260, according to information shared by the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation. About 50% of them do not have a licence. Of the total, women hawkers number around 60.