Noida allots street vendors space in authorised areas

The Noida authority aims to allot vending space outside each place of worship, government office, market and other public area, wherever there is requirement for the same.

The Noida authority said Thursday it has started the process of allotting space to street vendors at authorised sites through an open draw.

The Noida authority said Thursday it has started the process of allotting space to street vendors at authorised sites through an open draw. (Sunil Ghosh /HT Photo)

In the first phase comprising 1,400 applications, the authority has allotted space to 26.

According to officials of the Noida authority, at least 8,200 applicants had applied for vending spaces from October 4 to November 30, 2018. The authority has close to 1,100 vending spaces for street vendors. The 26 spaces the authority allotted in the first phase are located in sectors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14.

“We have started the process of allotting licenses to successful applicants through an open draw. We have started the process with complete transparency. We will keep organising draws to allot space to all successful applicants in the future,” RK Singh, officer on special duty of the Noida authority, said.

The authority aims to allot vending space outside each place of worship, government office, market and other public area, wherever there is requirement for the same.

Officials said through allotment, the authority wants ensure that street vends in the city are streamlined and illegal ones are removed, as they operate on roadsides, hindering vehicular movement and resulting in congestion, especially during peak hours.

No deadline has been set for finishing the allotting process, however the task will be completed as soon as possible, officials said.

The Noida authority had, on February 22 this year, decided to issue licenses to vendors according to the new guidelines for street vendors approved last year by the Uttar Pradesh government. Officials said the exercise of issuing new licenses and removing illegal ones will help them reduce congestion across the city.

The UP government had, on February 2, 2018, approved livelihood protection and street vendor settlement guidelines, 2018, under Section 36 of the Street vendors (livelihood protection and street vendor settlement) Act, 2014.

“We will charge a license fee and each vendor will have to adhere to the guidelines. If anyone violates the law, the authority will act against the offender,” Singh added.