THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: More than 2,000 shops and around 3,000 employees; selling anything from safety pins to heavy furniture. But Chalai, the mother of all markets, will take a major hit in the daily sale of commodities if the never-ending traffic snarls are not managed.With the onset of the Malayalam month of Chingam, the crowds thronging the market and the volume of the sales have gone up by several folds. The traffic that turns heavy by evening has raised the concern of the Traffic Police.South Traffic Assistant Commissioner P Mohan told Express that the rush during the festival seasons is almost unmanageable as the markets are saturated with street vendors and merchants selling their wares on the footpath. ‘’The sales on the footpath can be controlled if the local police take suitable action. The vehicles parked at prohibited areas are being fined and this will continue even after the Onam season,’’ he said.Several shop owners at Chalai alleged that the heavy traffic was affecting their business. "The street vendors crowding in front of the shops and the lack of enough parking area are keeping away the customers. They are reluctant to come to the market. Most of them fear that they will get stranded in the traffic,” said S P Ashok Kumar, owner of Sabari traders and the president of Chalai Merchants’ Club.The street vendors of the market are aware of the complaints registered by some shop owners. Muthalif, a resident of Vallakadavu who has been in the business for the last 15 years, said that some sections of the traders had turned hostile to the vendors fearing a decrease in their sales.Parking of vehicles is permitted on the left side of the road. However, vehicles are parked on the road often transgressing the white demarcation line.Meanwhile, leaders of the Chalai Merchants’ Club alleged that the street vendors are operating hand in hand with certain police officers and that the police were turning a blind eye to the illegal trading in the area. Muthalif, however, refuted the allegation that street vendors were paying bribes to the police.Fort police station Circle Inspector KR Anil Kumar, while reacting to the allegation that certain police officers were receiving bribes, said that strict action will be taken against the police officers if they are found guilty. He also said that three police officers were posted in Chalai market to control the traffic and also to check the sales on the footpath.
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