No vending zones, traders occupy footpaths

BHUBANESWAR: Footpaths in the city are shrinking by the day, thanks to encroachment by vendors. Crowded footpaths are a regular sight in many areas, including the busy Unit-I and Unit-II markets, Vani Vihar, Chandrasekharpur and Unit-IV. In the absence of adequate number of vending zones, a large number of vendors have been selling their wares on footpaths for several years despite regular raids by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). This not only creates inconvenience to pedestrians but also causes traffic problems. Against around 22,000 street vendors in the city, there are just about 55 authorised vending zones that accommodate 2,600 vendors. And with no alternative, the remaining depend on the city’s footpaths.The vendors, however, blame the BMC for the scenario. Pratap Sahoo, the president of the All Orissa Roadside Vendors Association, said the vendors have for long been demanding vending zones for all vendors among other things, but in vain. “In a meeting in December last, we had submitted a list of total number of vendors in the city as sought by the BMC and they had assured us to provide vending zones to alls. But before any measure was initiated in this regard, the BMC recently identified 12 areas in the city to be declared as no vending zones,” said Sahoo, adding that this will only worsen the situation.  He said that the association had also suggested to the civic body to set up at least three vending zones in each of the 60 wards. “If 300 vendors are provided shops in each ward, as many as 18,000 vendors can be accommodated, solving the problem to a large extent,” Sahoo said. On the other hand, Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said that no new vending zone can be set up in the city without the permission of the General Administration Department. “A joint task force comprising BMC, BDA, Traffic Police and GA Department officials has been formed to look into illegal vending in the city. But we cannot create new vending zones without permission and land allotment by the GA Department,” he said.