Erode Kani Market traders blocked a road and stopped a government bus on Saturday, protesting the spread of roadside textile shops that they said had damaged business at the formal shopping complex near Panneerselvam Park ahead of Diwali.
More than 100 roadside textile shops have reportedly emerged along the stretch from Panneerselvam Park to Manikundu in Erode. Traders at the integrated textile shopping complex said the roadside businesses, combined with high rents for their shops, had severely affected their livelihoods.
The protest took place outside Kani Market, where traders said they had borrowed lakhs of rupees and stocked clothes in anticipation of Diwali sales. They had previously approached corporation officials, asking for the roadside shops to be removed.
On Saturday morning, the protesters gathered in front of the complex and blocked a government bus travelling towards the bus stand. The blockade disrupted traffic, with vehicles reportedly queuing along the road. The traders also argued with police during the protest.
Town police inspector Elango reached the spot and held talks with the traders. The immediate confrontation brought together two competing pressures on the city’s commercial streets: licensed or organised traders operating from a designated shopping complex, and roadside sellers using public road space during a major festival shopping period.
The traders’ complaint also highlights the financial exposure faced by businesses that prepare for seasonal demand. According to the report, Kani Market traders had taken loans and purchased inventory for Diwali, while facing competition from roadside shops located along a busy urban stretch.
The dispute now rests partly on enforcement by the municipal authorities and police. Traders had asked corporation officials to clear the roadside shops, while the police said they would immediately take action to remove the shops along the road. The report does not provide details on whether the roadside vendors had licences, permits or designated vending spaces.
The action promised by police is the next official step in the dispute. Its implementation will determine whether the roadside shops are removed and whether traffic and access around Panneerselvam Park, Kani Market and the route towards Manikundu are restored.
