Municipal corporation shifts 125 roadside vendors to Manohar Vending Zone through draw-based booth allocation
PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
JAGADHRI
The Jagadhri Road stretch from Kanhaiya Sahib Chowk to Jagadhri Bus Stand has now been declared a non-vending zone as part of the Municipal Corporation’s efforts to improve traffic management and regulate roadside vending in the city. Under the initiative, 125 roadside vendors operating along the busy stretch have been shifted to the designated Manohar Vending Zone.
The move has been implemented on the directions of Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mahabir Prasad. Under the leadership of Additional Municipal Commissioner Dheeraj Kumar, booths were allotted to the affected vendors through a draw. The civic body has also made arrangements for essential facilities such as electricity, water supply and sanitation at the designated vending zone.
With the relocation of the vendors, the Municipal Corporation has made it clear that no roadside vending will now be permitted along the Jagadhri Road stretch between Kanhaiya Sahib Chowk and Jagadhri Bus Stand. Vendors found operating vegetable, fruit or fast-food carts on the road will face action under the applicable rules.
The decision is aimed at addressing recurring traffic congestion and improving movement along one of the important roads in Jagadhri. Roadside carts and temporary stalls had been occupying portions of the road and adjoining spaces, particularly during busy hours, creating difficulties for motorists, pedestrians and other road users.
Officials said the shifting process was carried out after preparing a list of 125 vendors who had been operating vegetable, fruit and fast-food carts along the identified stretch. The vendors were subsequently included in the booth allocation process for the Manohar Vending Zone.
The decision to designate major city roads and junctions as non-vending areas was taken during a meeting of the Town Vending Committee held a few days ago under the chairmanship of Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mahabir Prasad. The committee discussed the need to regulate roadside vending at major traffic points and decided to shift vendors from congested locations to designated vending zones.
The committee also decided that major road junctions in the city should be progressively developed as non-vending zones. The objective, according to the civic administration, is to create a balance between the livelihood needs of street vendors and the requirement for safe and orderly public spaces.
The Municipal Corporation said the relocation is not intended to deprive vendors of their livelihoods. Instead, the civic body has attempted to provide them with designated spaces where they can continue their businesses in a more organised environment.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Dheeraj Kumar said more vendors operating along other roads would also be shifted to designated vending zones in the coming days. He said the move would provide vendors with organised spaces while simultaneously reducing encroachment and congestion on important city roads.
According to the civic administration, providing designated booths can also make it easier to maintain sanitation and other basic facilities in areas where street vendors operate. The Manohar Vending Zone has therefore been equipped with essential civic facilities before the vendors were shifted there.
The draw-based allotment process was adopted to ensure that the booths were distributed among eligible vendors in an organised manner. The relocation gives the 125 vendors a fixed place from which to conduct their businesses instead of operating along the roadside.
The civic body expects the measure to ease traffic congestion on Jagadhri Road. The stretch between Kanhaiya Sahib Chowk and Jagadhri Bus Stand witnesses regular movement of private vehicles, public transport, pedestrians and commercial traffic. The presence of roadside vendors had often reduced the usable road space, particularly when customers stopped vehicles near the carts.
Officials said the shifting of vendors would create additional road space and help traffic move more smoothly. It is also expected to improve pedestrian movement and reduce the risk of accidents caused by vehicles attempting to navigate around roadside stalls.
Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mahabir Prasad said roadside vending at major junctions and important roads had emerged as one of the factors affecting traffic movement at several locations in the city. He said the administration was therefore working towards creating non-vending zones at major traffic points.
Prasad stressed that the civic body’s objective was not simply to remove street vendors from public spaces. Instead, the aim was to provide them with organised vending locations while improving the overall functioning of the city.
He said the administration was conscious of the fact that street vending provides a livelihood to a large number of families. Therefore, shifting vendors to designated areas was being undertaken as a regulatory measure rather than as an attempt to eliminate street vending.
The commissioner said that when vendors operate from designated spaces, they can continue their economic activities without obstructing traffic or occupying road space. At the same time, the Municipal Corporation can provide basic services and maintain cleanliness more effectively in such areas.
The authorities have also warned vendors against returning to the Jagadhri Road stretch after relocation. Officials said that once the road has been formally designated as a non-vending zone, roadside vending will not be permitted there.
Any vendor found setting up a vegetable, fruit or fast-food cart along the restricted stretch will be liable for action under the relevant municipal regulations. The warning is intended to ensure that the benefits of the relocation are not undermined by the return of roadside carts.
The Municipal Corporation is also planning to extend the exercise to other important roads and locations. According to Additional Municipal Commissioner Dheeraj Kumar, vendors operating from other identified stretches will be shifted to designated vending zones in a phased manner.
The administration believes that a planned vending system can address two concerns simultaneously: protecting the livelihood of street vendors and ensuring that roads remain accessible to traffic.
The relocation of the 125 vendors is therefore being viewed as an important step towards better urban management in Jagadhri. By creating designated vending spaces and regulating roadside activity, the civic administration aims to reduce congestion while giving vendors a more stable place to operate.
For residents and commuters, the immediate expectation is improved traffic movement along the Jagadhri Road corridor. For vendors, the designated booths are intended to provide a more organised business environment with access to basic civic facilities.
The Municipal Corporation has indicated that similar measures will be taken on other congested roads as part of its broader effort to streamline vending activity across the city. The success of the initiative will depend on continued enforcement, proper maintenance of vending zones and cooperation from vendors and residents.
The civic administration has appealed to vendors to use only the spaces allotted to them and cooperate with the new arrangement. It has also urged residents to support the organised vending system and avoid encouraging roadside encroachment by purchasing from carts operating in restricted areas.
Officials said the broader goal is to create a cleaner, safer and more traffic-friendly urban environment without compromising the livelihood interests of street vendors. The shift of 125 vendors from Jagadhri Road to Manohar Vending Zone marks the first major step in that direction, with further relocation drives expected on other busy stretches of the city.
POD/DESK
