New rules force vendors to jostle for stall spots at Sungei Road

TNP PICTURE: Gavin Foo

NEW RULES put into effect at the Sungei Road Free Hawking Zone yesterday morning caused vendors to rush for spots to set up shop.

With half of the regular space closed for the construction of an MRT station, more than 300 vendors were forced to jostle with one another for demarcated one-meter wide lots on a first-come-first-serve basis at 12.30pm, leaving many disappointed after waiting for hours.

Amidst the rush, a fight broke out requiring police mediation to settle the matter.

More in The New Paper today (July 26).

Check out our gallery of the Sungei Road street market, also known as the Thieves' Market, below to see the differences once the new rules came into play.

Sungei Road street market on July 20

Sungei Road street market on July 25