Archive · 12 Jan 2026
Hawkers Defy Court Order in Oberoi Grand Arcade
Hawkers at the Oberoi Grand Arcade in Esplanade are not following the rules.
A court said they can only use one-third of the pavement, but the hawkers are using more space.
They are putting sticks and clothes outside their stalls, making it hard for people to walk.
The town vending committee, which includes hawkers and police, is supposed to make sure the rules are followed.
They have been told to fix this problem, or the city will have to step in.
People walking there say it's very crowded and difficult to move around.
Hawkers at Oberoi Grand Arcade are occupying more than one-third of the pavement width, violating a court order and street vending rules.
Justice Amrita Sinha of Calcutta High Court ordered in November 2023 that two-thirds of the pavement must be free for pedestrians.
Street vending rules notified in 2018 state that hawkers must restrict their stalls to one-third of the pavement width.
Hawkers are using sticks to display garments and customers standing next to the stalls, further reducing pedestrian space.
The town vending committee, empowered by the Street Vendors Act, 2014, has been asked to enforce the rules, or the KMC may intervene.
- Who
- Hawkers at Oberoi Grand Arcade, Calcutta High Court, Town Vending Committee, Pedestrians
- What
- Hawkers occupying more than one-third of the pavement width, violating court orders and street vending rules
- When
- Observed on Sunday and Wednesday afternoons, court order issued in November 2023
- Where
- Oberoi Grand Arcade, Esplanade, Kolkata
- Why
- Hawkers extending stalls and displaying garments beyond the allowed one-third width, causing obstruction to pedestrians
- Location
- Oberoi Grand Arcade, Esplanade
- Court Order Date
- November 2023
- Street Vending Rules Year
- 2018
- Act Empowering Vending Committee
- Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014
- Committee Members
- Hawkers, NGOs, Police
- Mayoral Council Member
- Debashis Kumar
- Hawker Leader
- Debashis Das