MCG’s hawker zones project to be opened to public for feedback

To decongest roads and solve a long-pending infrastructure issue, the Municipal Corporation Gurgaon (MCG) has earmarked 31 hawking zones in different areas of the city.

To decongest roads and solve a long-pending infrastructure issue, the Municipal Corporation Gurgaon (MCG) has earmarked 31 hawking zones in different areas of the city.

The project is aimed at curtailing snarls that are result of roads being encroached upon by vendors. (Abhinav Saha/HT Photo)

The project will set up zones -- hawking, non-hawking zones and restricted area (where hawking will be allowed only during restricted time) -- as per the necessity of each area. This is aimed at curtailing snarls that are result of roads being encroached upon by vendors.

To incorporate the public’s views for any changes in the project, the project’s modulation will be uploaded on the MCG website; www.mcg.gov.in, for feedback, following which it will be implemented.

The decision was taken during a meeting at the MCG office near civil hospital on Friday. Officials of Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Ltd, DLF Universal Ltd, and Medanta- the Medicity were also present at the meeting. They wanted the project replicated near their centres, officials said.

“Following several complaints from residents, the project for dedicated hawker zones was moved. Once implemented, the project will reduce the city’s congestion significantly. To bring in transparency and develop the project in accordance with public needs, their feedback will be incorporated to bring out the final project,” Vivek Kalia, joint commissioner, said.

The project was initiated after the MCG formed a town vending committee to work out details for earmarking vending or hawking zones in the city and implementing the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2015.

According to the Act, the committee has to conduct a survey of all existing street vendors and accommodate them in vending zones within the corporation limits. The committee then issues a certificate of vending in three categories -- stationary vendor, mobile vendor and others. The vendors will get identity cards as well.

MCG officials have identified 14,174 street hawkers in a survey conducted in the city two months ago.

As part of the project, public restrooms, drinking water facilities, seating arrangements, street lighting and solid waste management compost plants will be set up in these zones. The health department will also inspect all food stalls.