Mumbai civic body receives 1,600 suggestions on hawking zones

The deadline for submitting suggestions was January 31

Over the next one month, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will go over around 1,600 suggestions and objections from citizens on proposed hawking zones in the city. The BMC invited online suggestions on a draft list in December and received 1,389 e-mails and 200 dispatched letters till January 30.

The BMC has been receiving flak from citizens and city councillors for marking hawking zones in an arbitrary manner. (HT FILE)

The deadline for submitting suggestions was January 31. Civic officials said they would check the feedback for merit by inspecting the areas in question. “Based on the reports from our inspectors, we will accept the valid suggestions and make changes to the list. Hearings shall be conducted for suggestions that do not hold merit. This process shall take a month,” said deputy municipal commissioner (removal of encroachments) Nidhi Chaudhari.

Councillor and Samajwadi Party leader Rais Shaikh on Wednesday demanded a 15-day extension to the deadline. The demand will be heard by higher authorities although citizens had enough time to submit their feedback, said an official.

The list of hawking zones is expected to be finalised and presented before a 20-member Town Vending Committee for approval by February-end. Chaudhari said the approved list will be uploaded on the online portal.