Following in the footsteps of their Jalandhar and Ludhiana counterparts, Amritsar municipal corporation authorities have planned to regularise street vendors across the city. The move will help get rid of encroachments and ease congestion on roads.
Under the street vending plan, the MC has shortlisted two firms — one from New Delhi and the other from Kolkata. Representatives of the two firms gave presentations to city mayor Bakshi Ram Arora, municipal commissioner Sonali Giri and other officials during a meeting at Ram Bagh on Tuesday.
One of these firms will be given the contract to implement the project, which will begin with biometric survey of more than 20,000 street vends operating in the municipal area. The firm will carry out identification, data collection, registration, photography and videography of the vendors, and maintain the database.
Following this, smart-chip cards, containing the biometric data and to be considered as government-approved licences, besides certificates containing all details will be issued to the vendors.
The firm will also propose the plan to displace, relocate and rehabilitate the vendors. The task will be done through an advanced software, said sources in the MC.
{{/usCountry}}The firm will also propose the plan to displace, relocate and rehabilitate the vendors. The task will be done through an advanced software, said sources in the MC.
{{/usCountry}}“After finalising the firm, we will prepare a policy for the project and complete it within six months. The project will not only regularise street vending, but also provide relief to residents and tourists in various ways,” said Giri.
Once the policy is prepared, no one will be allowed to operate vends without permission, she said, adding that the project will help the MC decongest various areas, especially the walled city, and streamline traffic.