Siliguri, 07th August: Hundreds of hawkers approached Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh and Dabgram-Fulbari MLA Sikha Chatterjee, seeking rehabilitation after the Railway authorities initiated an eviction drive as part of the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Railway Station redevelopment project.
According to the hawkers, they have been earning their livelihood by running businesses in and around the station for several years. They alleged that they are now being evicted without any rehabilitation plan. They also claimed that the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been preventing them from carrying out business and imposing fines, leaving many families on the verge of losing their only source of income.
The hawkers said they are not opposed to the redevelopment and modernisation of NJP Railway Station. However, they demanded that the project should not come at the cost of their livelihood. They stated that hundreds of families depend on businesses around the station and that the ongoing restrictions have made it difficult for them to support their families.
On Friday, hundreds of hawkers first visited the office of Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh and later went to the residence of Dabgram-Fulbari MLA Sikha Chatterjee. As neither MLA was present, the hawkers submitted their grievances to their representatives.
The hawkers said they would again seek meetings with both MLAs in the coming days and press for rehabilitation through the Railway authorities.
Reacting to the issue, Dabgram-Fulbari MLA Sikha Chatterjee said that if the redevelopment work at NJP Railway Station has created difficulties for the hawkers, the matter would be looked into seriously. She said efforts would be made to discuss the issue with the Railway authorities and explore the possibility of rehabilitation for the affected hawkers.