Sultan Bazaar Traders protest against the Metro Rail project

The traders of Sultan Bazar observed “bandh” in protest against the ‘realignment’ of the Metro Rail project, on Tuesday.

The humming bazaar which is 200-year old is shuttered down the whole day. It is mainly comprises of garment and textile shops.

The latest alignment of the routes will result in losing their livelihoods by demolition of their shops .

A lot of banners were seen reading ‘KCR Zindabad L&T Murdabad, thanks for saving our Sultan Bazaar heritage banners’ welcome those entering the 200-year old shopping centre.

Sudheer Kumar, treasurer, Sultan Bazaar Traders Association (SBTA), said during bandh.“A few traders along with N. V. S. Reddy, the managing director of HMR have lied to KCR that we have agreed for the demolition.”

The shop owners said apart from losing their shops , they will face be huge loss. One of the shop owner said . “They have said that traders would be given space in the sky walk, where the prices will be very high. The Sultan Bazaar market is a middle class market, where 25 lakh people come for shopping during Dussera every year.”

“The livelihood of a lot people, depends on this place. The bus stop here also brings in a lot of customers,” Lakshman, the owner of Maya Garment at the Sultan Bazaar market, said. He also said that most of the establishments there are family run businesses, which have been there from generations.

Mr. Kumar the owner of a shop said. “We are not against the Chief Minister, as we believe he is still with us. In 2011, he had protested against the then Congress government, and we are sure he will save the market.”