Uncertainty has gripped hundreds of small traders operating at railway stations under the Northeast Frontier Railway’s Lumding Division after a large-scale eviction drive on Sunday rendered their businesses defunct and threatened their sources of livelihood.
The drive, which reportedly covered Dharmanagar and several other stations, resulted in the removal of nearly 200 shops, according to the affected vendors. The action has sparked resentment among traders who claim that their longstanding association with the railway stations has come to an abrupt end, leaving them with little clarity about how they will sustain their families.
For many of these small entrepreneurs, the railway platforms have been their workplace for years. Operating under railway licences, they earned their living by selling cooked meals, tea, biscuits and other food items to passengers. Some traders said their businesses had been passed down through generations, making the shops much more than a source of income.
The eviction has now placed their future in jeopardy. Several traders are worried not only about meeting their household expenses but also about the financial difficulties facing workers employed at their stalls.
Recounting his plight, one vendor said the shop had been run by his father for years before he took over its operations. The business supported his entire family, but its removal has left him uncertain about how he will provide for his children and manage everyday expenses.
The affected traders have also questioned the decision to remove the existing establishments while initiating a fresh tender process for the allotment of shops. According to one vendor, they had requested the railway authorities to allow them to continue their businesses, even if the existing rental terms needed to be revised upwards. However, their appeal allegedly failed to secure a favourable response.
The dispute had also taken a legal turn, with the traders claiming that they had approached the court against the eviction. One of the affected vendors alleg
