KBR Park. Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mali_kbr_park.jpeg
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LET THE STREETS COME ALIVE
The roads of Hyderabad are like any other Indian city. Traffic snarls, vehicles piling up, the hustle bustle of citizens about their daily business… A routine affair. But come night, as the traffic dies, you magically see food vendors sprout up all over the city. Food vendors, that come together to form long food streets, with even longer queues of famished customers. It is quite a sight to see, as these vendors eagerly wait to serve you with their eclectic platters of dosas, Irani chais, biryanis, shawarmas, momos…a gastronomical treat for Foodies. Customers stand hypnotized as the vendors dish out meals at top speed in a rhythm that is nothing short of acrobatic finesse. These mid night treats are something to look forward to.
What you see is a vibrant urban space where people come together to engage, interact and be a part of this informal community. Streets have tremendous scope for multiple public activities. These activities can transform the street into different experiences at various times of the day, with the added benefit of keeping the street safe. It is also interesting to note that, these vendors, who wouldn’t have space to put a foot on the road during the day, by night, claim their space to make a livelihood. The vendors melt into the darkness as the first rays of dawn light up the streets, and the road embraces another day of busy traffic.
June 2016 | CITY OBSERVER
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