Evicted Night Food Court vendors begin indefinite strike

A large number of vendors displaced from the popular Night Food Court at Old Jail Road in Visakhapatnam have began an indefinite strike near the Gandhi Statue at the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) building, opposing the civic body’s removal of their shops under ‘Operation LUNGS’ in September last year, citing irregularities, and delays in allotting new shops.

The vendors said that although six months have passed since the food court was cleared, and the GVMC had assured that eligible beneficiaries would be allotted shops in a systematic manner, no steps have been taken so far for their rehabilitation. They stated that the loss of business has pushed them into severe financial distress, as the food court was their primary source of livelihood.