Despite protests, Chandigarh MC to relocate street vendors

CHANDIGARH: Amid growing opposition from traders and residents, the Chandigarh municipal corporation on Thursday notified the Street Vendors Act, paving way for vendors’ relocation.


A senior MC official said they would start the process of allotment of earmarked vending sites from December 28 through a draw of lots in a phased manner.

“We have notified the Street Vendors Act after getting approval from UT administrator VP Singh Badnore. A meeting of the town vending committee has been called on December 26 to sort out issues related to the allotment of sites. After this, the relocation will begin,” said MC commissioner KK Yadav.

According to the MC’s plan, the registered vendors would be allotted spaces in sectors where they already are and the left-out ones would be moved to the neighbouring sectors.

“All vendors will be given identity cards on the day of the resettlement,” said an official.

However, traders and residents continue to protest against the civic body’s move on the location of sites.

On Thursday, the traders held protests in sectors 23 and 40 and the issue was also raised in the MC House meeting.

As per the estimates of the civic body, it will earn around Rs 10 crore to Rs 12 crore annually with the resettlement of around 9,500 vendors. Out of these, around 3,000 belong to the essential services category, and they will not be removed from their current locations. Rest 6,500 will be resettled.