Biratnagar Metropolitan City on Friday launched a campaign to clear footpaths in the market area, aiming to make the city cleaner, more organised and visually appealing.

A team led by Deputy Mayor Shilpa Nirala Karki has begun removing encroachments in the marketplace. The move, however, has directly affected small traders who rely on daily earnings for their livelihoods.

During the campaign, Karki urged vendors to vacate the footpaths voluntarily, but many small vendors complained that they had no alternative spaces to continue their trade. “It is easy to remove us, but where are we supposed to go?” said Ramdev Sah, who sells goods on a pushcart. “People like us survive on daily earnings. It is wrong for the metropolis to displace us without providing any alternative.”

The metropolis had earlier completed preparations to remove unregulated shops, carts and temporary structures from the main market area. Officials say the decision was taken after discussions with stakeholders a few days ago. However, affected traders claim they were not meaningfully included in the process.

Authorities said public announcements were made for two days before the drive. Traders, however, argue that the notice was too short and the pressure to vacate immediately has left them in distress.

A joint team of municipal police and Nepal Police has been deployed for the operation. Municipal Police Inspector Rajan Paudel said goods would be confiscated if vendors fail to comply.

While the metropolis maintains that the campaign will help improve urban management, locals warn that strict enforcement without alternative arrangements could push small traders into a livelihood crisis, said resident Haribol Kamati.