Delay in Finalizing Vending and Non-Vending Zones as Committee Meeting Disrupted

The Town Vending Committee’s second meeting faced disruptions, preventing the finalization of the list of vending and non-vending zones in Chennai. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) had anticipated the committee’s approval of the proposed zones compiled by ward committees from various areas. However, objections raised by vendors, particularly regarding evictions in locations like Koyambedu, led to the cancellation of the meeting.

The committee, chaired by GCC Commissioner J. Radhakrishnan, plays a crucial role in regulating vending zones and addressing encroachments. The delay in finalizing these zones hampers the civic body’s plans to remove encroachers from footpaths and designated non-vending areas. The committee aims to reconvene to discuss and approve the identified zones, potentially allowing a four-week period for the remaining zones to submit their proposals.

Additionally, decisions on issuing identity cards to unenumerated street vendors are expected in the subsequent meeting. The GCC had already identified and provided identity cards to 35,588 street vendors as part of its regulatory efforts.