The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh is most likely to declare Sector 22 as a no-vending zone. As per the plan, street vendors may not be allowed to sit in the Sector. The shopkeepers of Sector 22 have complained as there are too many vendors functioning in the area considering that Sector 22 is the city’s one of the more crowded areas. There are nearly 2,000 small vendors operating in Sector 22. This number increases during festive seasons.
Mayor Asha Jaswal said the proposal came up in a meeting of town vending committee as well and they are planning to declare the sector as a no-vending zone. “We even have a plan to streamline the Shastri market. I have seen markets in Thailand. They are so well-planned. We will see if we can bring that same pattern here as well,” said Jaswal.
Meanwhile, a decision to declare Sector 17 no-vending zone has already been taken. The Sector 17 had become a market of vendors which was objected by a lot of citizens. Jaswal added, “We are hopeful of implementing the decision of not allowing street vendors from April 1. Or for the moment, we might create a temporary vending zone at Sector 17 and at only that place, the vendors would be allowed to operate.”
An agency commissioned by the MC in a survey had identified 21,621 vendors. The civic body, however, is planning to issue licenses to street vendors under Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. The MC had proposed two categories of vendors – service providers and non-service providers. The vending fee as proposed will vary areawise.
