The absence of a comprehensive policy for street vendors by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has resulted in a significant increase in market encroachments, posing serious challenges for pedestrians and exacerbating traffic congestion throughout the city.With over 50,000 hawkers operating along footpaths and roads, key commercial areas like Mahal and Sitabuldi continue to struggle with traffic bottlenecks, despite recent road widening efforts. The lack of designated vending zones has only intensified the problem.In 2019, the NMC established a Town Vending Committee to tackle the growing concerns surrounding hawkers.
This committee, which includes representatives from both the civic administration and hawker groups, was created to address issues related to licensing and space allocation. However, progress has been slow.The roots of the issue trace back to 2016, when the NMC began issuing licenses to hawkers, registering 1,225 vendors before abruptly stopping the process. A subsequent policy mandated the formation of a committee chaired by the municipal commissioner, with participation from city councillors and hawker division representatives, to oversee hawker registration and the creation of designated vending zones.Under this framework, meetings require the presence of both administrative and hawker representatives to proceed.
Despite these provisions, hawker groups assert that their concerns are being overlooked.Razzaq Qureshi, General Secretary of the Nagpur Street Vendors and Footpath Shopkeepers Association, claimed that meetings of the Town Vending Committee have favored local political figures and builders. Frustrated by the lack of adequate representation, hawker members have since boycotted these meetings.Meanwhile, both the Central and State Governments have instructed all municipal bodies to complete the registration of hawkers and demarcate vending zones within four months. Until this is accomplished, hawkers are to remain undisturbed in their current locations.
Follow Us
