The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is moving forward with its decision to remove the long-standing Bhadra Patharna Bazaar after a total of 844 vendors refused to shift to the alternative location proposed by the civic body. The move comes as part of AMC’s ongoing efforts to streamline traffic, decongest public spaces, and upgrade heritage areas around Bhadra Fort.
According to officials, the vendors were offered a designated marketplace equipped with basic facilities, but the majority rejected the proposal, stating concerns over reduced footfall and potential loss of income. Despite multiple rounds of dialogue, no consensus was reached, prompting the AMC to initiate clearance action to reclaim the area for planned urban development.
The civic body maintains that the removal is essential for pedestrian safety and better urban mobility in the Bhadra precinct, which faces heavy daily traffic. Meanwhile, vendor associations have criticized the move, calling it abrupt and harmful to livelihoods.
As the situation escalates, AMC teams are likely to be deployed for phased clearance in the coming days. The decision marks a significant step in Ahmedabad’s ongoing efforts to balance modernization with informal market economics, a challenge that continues to shape the city’s urban landscape.
