Coimbatore : The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has selected Coimbatore and Madurai for the model town vending project. This project will come under the National Urban Livelihood mission and help street vendors in the city to have zones earmarked for them and avail social security benefits.
Coimbatore : The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has selected Coimbatore and Madurai for the model town vending project. This project will come under the National Urban Livelihood mission and help street vendors in the city to have zones earmarked for them and avail social security benefits.
For the city, it would mean that only certain areas earmarked for this project will be occupied by street vendors and the streets will be free otherwise for other uses.
According to S M Ubaidu Rahman, member of the Coimbatore Smart City Street Vendors Association, "The Corporation has thus far identified 10 places to build these vending zones at a project cost of close to Rs.54, 70,000,00. Shops of 6x4 sizes will be built in these zones which will also have ample parking space and enough space for customers to shop conveniently. These 10 locations including Sungam, Saravanampatty Burma Colony, Kalapatti road and Kovaipudur were identified by CCMC and sent for further approval. Once approved, these zones in accordance to the size will have 10 or 20 shops in one particular area earmarked for them with neccesary facilities. Once implemented, the vending zones can be created in other parts of the city too," he added.
"There are about 12,000 registered street vendors in Coimbatore, from those who have their shops on the street to vendors using four-wheeled carts to sell their products. Over 8000 vendors have been given ID cards. This will help vendors to maintain their livelihood .Till now, this sector has been an unorganised sector. With the help of the Coimbatore Corporation, these vendors will come into the organised sector which would benefit them in the future," reiterated Ubaidu Rahman.
According to sources, CCMC had sent a list of places in a Detailed Implementation Plan to the Commissionerate of Municipal Administration. Once approved, the State Government will send the proposal to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the project is expected to take shape. "This zone, once commissioned, will support the livelihood of street vendors to a great extent and also the streets will be free from congestion caused by wayside shops," stated a senior Corporation official.
For the city, it would mean that only certain areas earmarked for this project will be occupied by street vendors and the streets will be free otherwise for other uses.
According to S M Ubaidu Rahman, member of the Coimbatore Smart City Street Vendors Association, "The Corporation has thus far identified 10 places to build these vending zones at a project cost of close to Rs.54, 70,000,00. Shops of 6x4 sizes will be built in these zones which will also have ample parking space and enough space for customers to shop conveniently. These 10 locations including Sungam, Saravanampatty Burma Colony, Kalapatti road and Kovaipudur were identified by CCMC and sent for further approval. Once approved, these zones in accordance to the size will have 10 or 20 shops in one particular area earmarked for them with neccesary facilities. Once implemented, the vending zones can be created in other parts of the city too," he added.
"There are about 12,000 registered street vendors in Coimbatore, from those who have their shops on the street to vendors using four-wheeled carts to sell their products. Over 8000 vendors have been given ID cards. This will help vendors to maintain their livelihood .Till now, this sector has been an unorganised sector. With the help of the Coimbatore Corporation, these vendors will come into the organised sector which would benefit them in the future," reiterated Ubaidu Rahman.
According to sources, CCMC had sent a list of places in a Detailed Implementation Plan to the Commissionerate of Municipal Administration. Once approved, the State Government will send the proposal to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the project is expected to take shape. "This zone, once commissioned, will support the livelihood of street vendors to a great extent and also the streets will be free from congestion caused by wayside shops," stated a senior Corporation official.