News aggregator

Orkla India partners CleanMax for 100% renewable power supply to Karnataka factories  pv magazine India

Bengaluru police issue traffic advisory for Eid-Milad on September 16  The Hindu

No coercive action yet against motorists without HSRP fixation, says Karnataka Transport Commissioner Yogesh  The Indian Express

Traffic Restrictions and Parking Ban in Bangalore for Eid Milad Processions  The Vocal News

Bengaluru gets 100 new diesel buses, BMTC plans to launch 840 more by March  News9 LIVE

In a recent incident, a 56-year-old woman died when the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) conducted a drive to evict street vendors from a ‘no-hawking zone’ at the NSC Bose Road junction. According to news reports, the woman, M Krishnaveni, was trying to protect her wares during the eviction drive. This incident has sparked widespread concern and reignited discussions on designating vending and non-vending zones fairly.

A series of such developments in Chennai have impacted both residents and street vendors. While residents raise issues like reduced walkability and increased garbage, vendors argue they need a proper space to sell their wares. In response, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) declared certain streets as vending zones.  

However, will simply declaring vending and non-vending zones solve the problem? While the GCC has taken many steps to regulate the street vending system, guidelines laid under the Street Vendors Act 2014, such as provisions for grievance redressal systems are often overlooked. Moreover, the larger problems of loss of livelihood due to eviction and relocation are rarely addressed.    

Street vendors, an integral part of the city

“Street vendors form a very important segment of the unorganised sector in the country. It is estimated that in several cities street vendors count for about 2 per cent of the population,” reads the National Policy on Street Vendors (2009). This policy note starts by recognising the positive role of street vendors in providing essential commodities to people at affordable prices and at convenient places.

This makes us go back to the basic definition of ‘street vendors’ and see what these new vending zones could mean for the street vendors as well as their consumers.

According to Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, ‘street vendor‘ means a person engaged in vending of articles, goods, wares, food items or merchandise of everyday use or offering services to the general public, in a street, lane, sidewalk, footpath, pavement, public park or any other public place or private area, from a temporary built up structure or by moving from place to place and includes hawker, peddler, squatter and all other synonymous terms which may be local or region specific.

The Act also mentions that the street vendors shall not have any other means of livelihood

New street vending zones to come up in Chennai

The GCC is set to finalise 776 vending zones and 493 non-vending zones for nearly 35,588 registered street vendors in Chennai. Among these, Zone 5 (Royapuram) and Zone 13 (Adyar) will have the highest number of vending zones, while Zone 8 (Anna Nagar) will have the fewest.

‘Vending zone’ means an area, a place or a location designated as such by the local authority, on the recommendations of the Town Vending Committee, for the specific use by street vendors. This includes footpaths, sidewalks, pavement, embankments, portions of a street, waiting areas for the public or any such place considered suitable for vending activities and providing services to the general public.

If any new person wants to get permission for street vending in Chennai, they should approach the Town Vending Committee. The Committee may grant a certificate of vending subject to the scheme, the plan for street vending and the holding capacity of the vending zones.

“After the list of vending and non-vending zones was submitted to the Town Vending Committee, we told the GCC officials that we wanted to inspect the spots and interact with vendors in those areas before finalising the list. Following this, zone-level sub-committees with zonal authorities and 10 representatives from the vending committee were formed. Since August 30, we have been inspecting the spots,” says K Balaraman, a member of the Town Vending Committee.

Zone-wise vending and non-vending zones in Chennai. Pic: GCC

However, according to Balaraman, Chennai possibly has at least 2 lakh street vendors (2% of the total population). The committee has recommended setting up an additional 297 vending zones. Of these, 100 zones have been proposed to be designated in Zone 10 (Kodambakkam).

An additional 297 street vending zones are recommended by the Town Vending Committee. Pic: GCC Relocation affects the vendors’ business

Since many street vendors in Chennai were found to have fake ID cards, the GCC has also taken the initiative to provide chip-based ID cards for all 35,588 registered vendors. “We have received the corrections to be made. Once the vending and non-vending zones are finalised, the cards will be issued to all the vendors,” adds Balaraman.

Meanwhile, Subramanian, a street vendor at the NSC Bose Road junction, mentions that many vendors, including himself, have been working in the same locality for years and would lose their customers if they were relocated. “This area is well-known for street vending, and we have a steady flow of customers here. If the government provides us with an alternative location, we are unsure if we would have the same customer flow,” he notes.

According to the Act, the market areas where sellers and buyers have traditionally congregated for the sale and purchase of products or services could be determined as a ‘natural market’.

Read more: Bengaluru’s street vendors struggle with extreme heat, heavy rain, and limited options

No redressal mechanism for street vendors

If vendors like Subramanian want to raise their concerns, there is no mechanism in place for it in Chennai, despite the law making provisions for it.

According to the Street Vendors Act, 2014 the government should constitute one or more grievance redressal committees consisting of a chairperson who has been a civil judge or a judicial magistrate and two other professionals having such experience.

The Town Vending Committee includes officials from various departments like health and traffic police to come up with a scheme that will bring in a holistic solution to both the vendors and the public. Citing the aforementioned part of the law, C Thiruvettai, President of Chennai Small-Scale Street Vendors Federation, says that GCC has not formed a grievance redressal committee in Chennai and this leaves no place for the street vendors to go to address their issues.

He also points out that Chennai has one Town Vending Committee, which has a representation of only six street vendors, for all 15 Zones. “How is it possible for one committee with such less street-vendor representation to inspect all the vending and non-vending zones across the 15 Zones in Chennai?” he asks, also pointing out that after the Town Vending Committee was formed in 2023, only three meetings have been held until recently.

Balaraman also points out that on days that they go to inspect the vending zones, the street vendors who are part of the Town Vending Committee lose their day’s income. “Though the GCC has agreed to pay a sitting fee of Rs 1,000 each to committee members as per the mandates of the Street Vendors Act, we have not received the amount with arrears yet,” he says.

The essence of the Street Vendors Act missing in fixing vending zones

The Street Vendors Act mandates that the local authorities prepare a plan to promote the vocation of street vendors in consultation with the planning authorities and on the recommendations of the Town Vending Committee once every five years. This plan should be submitted to the government for approval and the Government should first determine the norms applicable to the street vendors and then pass a notification.

Given that GCC has not come up with any such plans yet, Thiruvettai notes that the GCC should have first come up with this plan aimed at improving the lives and livelihood of the street vendors. “The vending zones should have been decided based on this plan. However, in Chennai vending and non-vending zones are fixed based on political pressure and to ease traffic flow,” he adds.

Karthikeyan, a resident of Purasaivakkam, says, “I would also like our locality to be like Pondy Bazar, where there are broad pedestrian pathways. But if I only have Rs 50 on a given day, I can get the food or vegetables at an affordable rate from the street vendors in my area. I prefer to have the street vendors in visible and accessible areas, but I would also like some regulation.”

A win-win solution

• Creating a five-year plan for street-vending
• Ensuring vendors keep the space clean and safe
• Making vending zones accessible to customers
• Ensuring proper walking space for pedestrians in vending zones
• Introducing grievance redressal cells for vendors.

Also read:

• Push government to implement all welfare measures in Street Vendors Act : Lekha Adavi
• More heat, less business: Street vendors struggle as temperatures soar in Mumbai

The post Street Vendors Act overlooked even as Chennai eyes new vending zones appeared first on Citizen Matters.

‘Inbuilt corruption more dangerous than outside terrorism’: Bengaluru court convicts former special tahsildar in bribery case  The Indian Express

MUDA ‘scam’: Karnataka HC reserves judgment in Siddaramaiah plea against Governor’s nod for corruption cases  The Indian Express

A total of 840 new buses will join BMTC: Siddaramaiah  The Hans India

Pedestrians’ safety compromised in Mahadevapura  Bangalore Mirror

Pedestrians’ safety compromised in Mahadevapura  Bangalore Mirror

NGO, citizens seek dedicated bus lanes in Bengaluru  Bangalore Mirror

Bengaluru news: BMTC launches 100 new diesel buses, to get 820 of them by March  Deccan Herald

Three students killed in road accident in Bengaluru  The Hindu

New Bengaluru Suburban Rail Network to Ease Traffic with 4 New Rail Corridors  Nativeplanet

CM claims guarantee schemes providing ₹4,000 per month to each family in Karnataka  The Hindu

Bengaluru gets 100 new city buses, BMTC to launch more such vehicles to its fleet  Hindustan Times

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Launches 100 New BMTC Buses to Benefit Commuters  The Vocal News

Minister proposes water purification plants near lakes in Bengaluru  The Hindu

“Inconvenience today for a better tomorrow” — this saying resonates as we navigate the streets of Perumbakkam, a reminder that the ongoing Metro Rail construction work promises progress. But when it comes to saving lives, that inconvenience becomes a serious concern that demands immediate attention.

In Perumbakkam, the sound of an ambulance siren has become a haunting reminder of a persistent and growing problem. Instead of speeding through traffic, these emergency vehicles often find themselves trapped — immobilised in a gridlock of cars, school buses, and construction barriers. What should be a quick dash to the hospital often turns into an agonising wait, with precious minutes slipping away in the chaos.

Read more: Residents of Chennai’s Kumarasamy Nagar solve local traffic congestion issues.

A daily struggle for emergency responders Ambulances carrying patients often get stuck in traffic at Perumbakkam. Pic: Subasree Balram.

This isn’t a one-off incident; it’s a daily ordeal. Perumbakkam, once a quiet suburb of Chennai, has rapidly developed into a bustling area. With three schools located within a 500-metre radius of each other, the morning and evening rush hours have become a nightmare. The ongoing construction work by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has further narrowed the already constricted roads, leaving little room for vehicles to manoeuvre. This can lead to dire consequences for those caught in the chaotic traffic situation, especially emergency responders.

Ambulance drivers like Alex and Pazhani, who have been navigating these roads for years, feel the pressure. “On a regular day with less traffic, it takes just 22 minutes to get from Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital to Perumbakkam, and about 60 minutes from Vellore during emergency transport. But now? We’re lucky if we can make it in double that time,” says Alex, reflecting on the growing challenge of getting patients to the hospital for treatment on time.

Ambulances from other hospitals such as Apollo Hospitals, MIOT and Ramachandra Medical College, Porur also take this route.

Balaji, a veteran ambulance driver for 22 years, feels that staggered school timings may help. “Driving an ambulance during school pick-up hours has become incredibly difficult. Sometimes, even the hospital staff has to step out to help clear the traffic. We’re here to save lives, but the gridlock makes it quite difficult. The Metro Rail work is necessary, but until it’s completed, the schools should consider adjusting their timings for arrival and dispersal. This could ease the traffic significantly.”

Read more: Road safety: Accidents continue, measures inadequate

Managing the traffic gridlock

The influx of school buses and the many private cars picking up schoolchildren exacerbates the situation. “Parking is another major issue near the school premises. It’s time to rethink how we manage this traffic, because at the end of the day, saving lives is more important than strictly adhering to school schedules,” Balaji adds.

The daily gridlock is not just a frustration for residents but a serious public safety issue. The usual commute has become an ordeal, with travel times doubling, if not more. The congestion not only causes inconvenience — it endangers lives, as ambulances struggle to reach people with medical emergencies.

The ambulance drivers’ recommendations are practical and urgent: stagger school timings to reduce peak hour congestion, create dedicated lanes for emergency vehicles, and address the parking issues near the schools. With ongoing Metro Rail work, temporary solutions must be found until the work is completed.

As these drivers continue their daily battle against the gridlock, the message is clear: the roads in Perumbakkam are more than just pathways — they are lifelines. The authorities must prioritise public safety by implementing these solutions swiftly, ensuring that the infrastructure keeps pace with the area’s rapid development and that lives are not put at risk because of preventable delays.

What can be done to ease the problem

• The traffic police should work with schools to find a solution to the parking problem and to avoid vehicle parking on the roads.
• The authorities can have dedicated lanes for emergency vehicles and ensure they have right of way.
• Schools can look at staggered timings for the arrival and dispersal of children, by school buses and other vehicles.
• Consider diversions in consultation with residents and educational institutions to ease the traffic.

Do you have a similar traffic problem in your locality? Have you taken measures to ease the situation? Tell us in the comments.

Also read:

• Tunnel roads will not fix Bengaluru’s traffic problem: Here’s why
• Noise, dust and traffic: Coping with redevelopment in neighbourhoods

The post Metro Rail chaos: How traffic in Chennai’s Perumbakkam is putting lives at risk appeared first on Citizen Matters.