Street vendors to be moved out of major roads; exclusive zones to be identified

BENGALURU: If things work out as planned, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has planned to move out all street vendors from major roads in another six months. They will be accommodated on alternative roads where vending zones will be more more organised and less chaotic.

A new platform is being created for street vendors to carry out their business. The BBMP and the Karnataka State Street Vendors Association have come to a collective decision that street vendors will not allowed to sell their wares on 1,400 km of major roads the city. However, vendors will get a separate zone to carry out their business.

Bengaluru is known for its street food culture. Malleswaram, V V Puram and Gandhi Bazaar are just some of the many places where people can find street vendors selling everything from food to clothes to accessories and anything in between.

P C Rao, president, Bangalore Hotel Owners’ Association claimed that street vendors are not maintaining clean in the area.

While pedestrians complain about vendors encroaching footpath, hoteliers say do not maintain a hygenic environment.

P C Rao, president, Bangalore Hotel Owners’ Association said, “The number of street vendors is increasing. Though there is a ban on using LPG cylinders in public places, the vendors are using it. These food joints can be create traffic jams on main roads and endanger the safety of people”.

Rao requested the government to make separate arrangement like  food courts or to make a provisions to sell products in Indira Canteens, which have now shut down.

Street food vendors have opposed the idea of moving them out and a meeting was held with the BBMP recently. Following the meeting, it was decided that a fixed location for street vendors will be identified; vendors will be allowed on smaller roads instead of main road; alternative vending zone will be within 1 km of the current place of business; surveying street vendors; registering street vendors by inviting tenders at a cost of Rs 3 crore and providing identity cards.

At present, 87,000 street vendors are registered under a central scheme and provided identity cards and location fixed for them to carry out their business.

Street Vendors’ Association state president Rangaswamy said that BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath, Special Commissioner Ravindra, and the Street Vendors Association have agreed that Indira Canteens and street food vendors will be moved only after a new location is identified.

Those looking for street food may no longer find them on major roads and the civic body plans to clear encroachment of footpaths. The vendors too have agreed to shift once alternative sites are identified.

The works have already begun in places like Gandhi Bazaar to shift approximately 190 street vendors.