A shop encroaching on a footpath on Pantheon Road.
| Photo Credit: RAGU R

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Owing to the delay in creating vending zones in the city, there is a rise in encroachments on footpaths, particularly along stretches that were developed for non-motorised transportation.

Areas such as Egmore, Vepery, Chepauk, Purasawalkam, Anna Nagar, K.K. Nagar, and Nungambakkam have a number of vendors encroaching upon footpaths and roads.

Moreover, residents have complained that ward councillors and the local police were aware of such vendors on several stretches.

Ever since the government announced the creation of non-motorised transport facilities and footpaths in the city, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has been taking steps to regulate the vendors. GCC Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran said they would create vending and non-vending zones in the city in three months.

The civic body has also sent a proposal to the government to set up 15 town vending committees headed by the Regional Deputy Commissioner to expedite the process.

The government has to amend the existing rules to facilitate the creation of new committees and accelerate decision-making pertaining to vending zones. “Each Regional Deputy Commissioner will be the chairman of all the five committees in his region,” an official said.

The town vending committee, at a recent meeting, decided to permit only push carts and prohibit bunk shops that are permanent fixtures. However, many writ petitions have been filed seeking permission to set up bunk shops.

“The High Court Chief Justice formed a Special Bench for regulation of street vending in Chennai. We will also constitute a grievance redress committee,” said an official.