Mumbai, Oct 17 (Mumbai Mirror): Mumbai, Oct 17 (Mumbai Mirror): Following the September 29 stampede on a foot-over bridge at Elphinstone Road railway station that lead to the death of 23 people, newspaper vendors have alleged that they are having to face eviction drives at railway stations apparently initiated by the GRP, RPG, the railways, and the BMC.

Newspaper vendors in Mumbai and its nearby areas have demanded that they be granted the status of essential service providers and that the eviction drives be stopped.

They have argued that newspapers are an essential commodity that is delivered everywhere by them, even during emergencies and natural calamities.

Over 8,000 newspaper vendors have demanded permanent spaces in the city to sell newspapers. The eviction drive has affected over 1,000 newspaper vendors in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. Vendors have also demanded that they be granted proper spaces at railway stations to be able to conduct their business, as they provide commuters with the convenience.