Harshini Brahmavar

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Jun 8: Adi-Udupi is always crowded. At one end, tourists who want to visit Malpe Beach are eager to catch transport, and at the other end is the area which is bustling with fisheries activities of Malpe fishing port. In addition, there is a road that connects places like Madhwanagar, Moodabettu and Kodavoor.

On Wednesday every week, there are traffic issues in this locality. Though there is enough space of 10.2 acre of land, the same is being not utilized properly. Bushes and pests have come up on the vacant land. The garbage is strewn everywhere.

The main reason for the traffic chaos on Wednesday of every week is the weekly market. The sellers from nearby areas bring their goods and set up their stalls by the roadside itself. This leads to traffic block as enough space is not there for the vehicle drivers to maneuver their vehicles. The vehicle congestion becomes unbearable in the morning and evenings.

Though this market which brings in revenue of lacs of rupees is getting expanded every year, the administration is not taking suitable action to maintain orderly business by vendors of fruits and vegetables.

This market, which was functioning from inside the city of Udupi got shifted to Adi-Udupi in the year 1992. In the beginning, 300 to 400 people used to come to the market. Now this number has gone up to 20,000. Thousands of people from the nearby areas of the city come to this market to sell as well as buy goods. More than 400 shops do business here that range from small scale to large scale. The vendors from places like Tekkatte, Kokkarne, Barkur, Brahmavar, Udyavar, Katapadi, Athradi, Hidiyadka and Parkala come to this market to do business.

In addition to being a weekly business market, there is provision of godown also for storing goods of some sellers. However, the locals are of the opinion that some scam has taken place in this also. It is said that nearly lacs of rupees are collected from some vendors assuring them of providing godowns. However, till date the same is not delivered to them. The people who sit outside the market pay some bribe to the APMC officials, who do not make any issue of this.

Though there is enough space for parking, the customers park their vehicles in an erratic manner which causes movement of other vehicles difficult. In addition, an autorickshaw stand is also made for the convenience of the customers but that is also not official according to the locals.

Though it seems that there is no space in the front side of the market, there is a huge space in the old building as well as in the new verandah. However, the vendors are not using this judicially. In addition, one more building is ready for inauguration. But the vendors do not like to use it as they say that they will not get business if they sit behind. As the time ticks to around 5 or 5.30 pm, all the vendors rush outside and this causes huge traffic block.

Though the concerned department officials have warned the vendors not to sit outside the area, they do not pay heed. So only APMC officials have to take suitable action and allow for the smooth flow of traffic as per the urge of the customers who come to this market to buy goods.