Street vendors to be given carts, space in pilot project

Gurgaon: The MCG has decided to revamp sector markets across the city and some selected street vendors will be given carts and designated space near those markets.
A pilot project will be carried out in Sector 56 under which street vendors, including those selling food items and flowers, will be allocated spots along the periphery of the plot adjacent to the HUDA market.

The space at the centre will be utilised for setting up drinking water kiosks and public toilets. Officials said the pilot project is likely to start from this month.

“We have already allotted carts to vendors according to the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. Now, we are trying to organise them in a manner that makes the markets easily accessible and better to look at,” said a senior MCG official.

He added that many people visit these markets, especially in the evenings and on weekends, and it is important to have the basic facilities in place.

The MCG will also provide dustbins in these markets and ensure that vendors and the customers only dispose of garbage in those bins.

Besides, the MCG will ensure basic hygiene in the area through regular checks and inspections, officials said. “If the pilot project is successful, we will implement the model in other markets across the city,” the official added.

The MCG has been allotting carts and spaces to street vendors for the past couple of years.

But several vendors have organised protests alleging delay in allotment of carts and harassment by police and other government officials. The MCG, on the other hand, has claimed that while the vendors have a right to protect themselves, many of them encroach upon public space causing congestion and other problems.

Officials said the recent initiative is in line with MCG’s plan to provide authorised employment to street vendors across the city with the purpose of promoting the street food culture. The MCG also plans to develop and maintain green areas in the sector markets, officials said.