Traders Block Roads At Roshanpura Over Bhopal Municipal Corporation Sealing Notices; Police Stop March To CM’s Residence
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Angered by Bhopal Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) action against commercial activities in residential areas and the sealing notices issued to traders, a large number of traders took to the streets on Tuesday and staged protest at Roshanpura Square. The protesters formed a human chain and blocked the roads for nearly two hours, leading to heavy traffic congestion on routes…
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh - In response to the Bhopal Municipal Corporation's (BMC) efforts to restrict commercial activities in residential areas, traders gathered at Roshanpura Square on Tuesday to protest. The demonstrators formed a human chain, blocking roads and causing significant traffic disruptions for almost two hours. Women traders and business owners were among those participating in the demonstration.
Some traders tried to march towards the Chief Minister's residence but were stopped by the police, who then led the protesters to sit on the road and sing the national anthem. The protest concluded after the traders collectively sang the national anthem.
Traders have been operating in residential areas for years, including shops, beauty parlours, offices, and other businesses. They argued that the livelihoods of business owners, employees, and their families were directly impacted by these establishments. The traders had been paying taxes and operating with the administration's knowledge, and they claimed that a sudden sealing action could lead to a major employment crisis.
They demanded the implementation of the Bhopal Master Plan, permission for mixed land use, and a law for regularizing unauthorized development, similar to Gujarat.
Beauty parlour operators and beauticians also joined the protest. A beautician performed makeup on the road to illustrate the potential impact of the proposed action. She urged the government to find a mechanism that allows businesses to operate while adhering to regulations. The 24-hour notice to close properties issued by the BMC had previously been postponed due to a municipal council meeting, with the final notices expected to be issued on Thursday.
The final warnings were originally set to begin on August 17 but were delayed by three days. If commercial activities persist after the final warning, the sealing action could commence on Friday. Additionally, 3,500 app-based taxis will be off the roads for two days starting August 18 in Bhopal.
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