Fix vending zones before local body polls: Chennai Corporation

The official added that they were expecting a response from the police in a few days, after which the vending zones would be officially made public.

Demarcation of vending zones is based on street vending bylaws that were recently formulated. The civic body had also constituted town vending committees in each of the 15 zones. The town vending committees are comprised of officials from police, Chennai Corporation and representatives of street vendors. “These committees took part in identifying the vending zones,” the official said.

As per the bylaws, town vending committees of respective zones would decide the number of street vendors to be permitted on roads after factoring in the vehicle and pedestrian movements. Street vending would be banned on streets that are three to five metres wide and vending might be allowed on one side of the roads that have a width of five to six metres. On the roads with 10 metres width, vending would be allowed on both sides. Street vending would not be allowed in sites notified by the Archaeological Survey of India.

A member of town vending committee of Teynampet zone said that the committee has proposed around 3,000 vending zones in Teynampet, under which the Marina beach falls.

“Depending upon the size and number of street vendors, the number of vending zones in the Corporation zones have been proposed. Some zones may have 2,000 vending zones, while others may have over 3,000 vending zones. Vending zones are the streets and roads where street vending will be permitted,” another official said.