Vendors can station carts at vending zone sites: Mayor

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 25

Following a meeting with street vendors, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu stated that the street vendors, whose carts were impounded from roads during the anti-encroachment drives, could station their carts at the nearby sites identified by the MC for setting up vending zones. Many vending zone sites are yet to be notified by the government.

Sandhu said they would not charge fee from these vendors for stationing carts at these sites for now as the vending zones are yet to be set up. He said only those vendors, who were identified during the survey for vending zones, can station their carts at these sites.

Members of the Rehri Phari Union of Punjab gathered at the Mayor’s camp office today. A delegation of the union members met the Mayor and sought early redressal of their issues. Sandhu said: “After talking to the Commissioner of Police, we have allowed the fruit and vegetable sellers to station their carts at the earlier places to clear their stocks on January 26, without causing hindrance to traffic. But no vendor will be allowed to station their carts or tables on those roads where the police and the MC had conducted the anti-encroachment drives.”

“The vendors identified during the survey can station their carts at the vending zone sites from Monday. We will not charge any fee for stationing carts at these sites for now. After completing the process, we will soon set up the vending zones at the sites,” said Sandhu.

Meanwhile, union chief Bal Krishan Pappi said they had requested the Mayor to give them two days to station their carts on the roadside so that they can clear their stocks of fruit and vegetable. “But it has not been made clear to us that whether we can station our carts on the roadside to clear the stocks on January 26. Moreover, no list of sites identified for vending zones have been provided to us. The MC should put on duty its employees to inform the vendors about the sites which have been identified for setting up vending zones. We should be provided a list of these sites too,” he said.

“I also suggested during the meeting that vendors should be allowed to run their business at vacant sites near Civil Hospital, Daresi and at Salem Tabri,” said Bal Krishan.

Around 140 vending sites have been identified for setting up vending zones in the city.

According to an official, around 100 vending sites are yet to be notified while around 40 sites have been notified by the government.

But the process to set up the vending zones at these sites is getting delayed further.

Once the vending zones are set up, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) will charge fee from vendors.