Corporation gets 12k requests from vendors for 900 slots on Marina

“The last date to submit applications ends on December 26. With three more days remaining, the number of applications will increase further,” a Corporation official said.

The High Court had recently ordered the civic body to allocate 40 per cent of the 900 shops to the vendors and persons, who do not run shops at the beach presently.

The official added that, of the 12,000 applications, around 10,000 applications were from the outsiders, who are competing for the 40 per cent shops.

Remaining 2,000 applications are from existing vendors.

“There is no chance for the number of applications from the existing vendors to increase as there are around 2,000 shops now. On the other hand, applications from new vendors will increase,” he said.

When asked how the shops would be allocated to the applicants, who are several times higher than the total number of permitted shops, an official said the applications would be scrutinised and eligible applications would be put into the draw lot system.

“Steps have been taken to procure smart carts and all the 900 shops will start functioning by March. Meanwhile, 300 smart carts will be procured in the first phase,” he added.

It may be noted that the civic body had already announced that shops selling books, footwears, clothes, electronic items, mobile phones, tattoo shops and others would not be permitted on the beach. Shops would be allowed only for cold drinks, fancy items, food items and snacks items. After the scrutiny of the applications, finalisation of received applications will be done on January 8.

Meanwhile, the civic body had trained 50 street vendors, who sell food items, so that they could sell their food items through Swiggy. “This is a part of central government initiative and we are awaiting dates from the minister to launch the initiative in Chennai,” another official said.