Encroachments, problems in street vending persist despite Corpn. forming zonal panels

Despite the formation of 15 Town Vending Committees under the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), problems related to street vending persist across the city.

Residents and vendors said they await clear guidelines and effective implementation of vending regulations from the GCC.

In Adyar, locals flagged the recurring encroachment of pavements, especially near schools. “Evictions take place, but vendors return within days to occupy the pavements, forcing people to walk on the road,” said C. Ramakrishnan, Secretary of the Federation of Adyar Residents’ Associations.

Similar concerns have been raised in Anna Nagar, T. Nagar, and Koyambedu, where most of the footpaths are occupied by shops and vehicles, leaving little space for pedestrians.

The GCC, following a Madras High Court directive, recently held elections to constitute regional vending committees — one for each zone. These panels should oversee the implementation of vending regulations, address grievances, and assist in issuing identity cards to registered vendors.

The civic body has also designated 150 vending zones and 188 non-vending zones across its 15 zones.

However, confusion prevails among vendors regarding the new system. G. Kannan, a street vendor on Anna Salai, said he was unaware of the newly elected vending committee representative for his zone. “We don’t know whom to approach. Over 50 vendors, who applied for changes in their ID cards in December 2024, have still not received the updated ones. Meanwhile, those who did not need an update have received theirs,” he said.

Another vendor, S. Kumar, said many vendors, who did not receive the updated cards, including himself, had been frequenting the zonal office. “We fear eviction, in case there is a drive, since we only have old cards. The GCC has not contacted us regarding any update,” he said.

He added that the fear of eviction intensified after a recent drive near the Central Railway Station, in which more than 40 authorised shops were allegedly removed.

Chennai Street Vendors Federation and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) had demanded action against the officials responsible for evicting these shops.

Vending and non-vending zones have not been marked in many parts of Tondiarpet zone, he adds.

Revenue Department officials said the vending zones would soon be finalised. They further said that the updated ID cards were issued to many. “In case the problem with the new cards persists, vendors can approach zonal officials,” an official said.