Srinagar: Despite the establishment of smart vending zones under the Smart City initiative, street vendors continue to occupy roads and footpaths across Srinagar, causing disruptions to both pedestrian and vehicular movement. Key areas such as Batamaloo, Jahangir Chowk, Habba Kadal, Dalgate, Bohri Kadal, Nowhatta, Alamgari Bazar and Soura remain congested as vendors encroach upon public spaces, creating daily challenges for commuters.
To address this issue, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) had identified five designated vending zones at locations like Khalsa School in Magarmal Bagh, Sector 6 in Batamaloo, Sector 5 Dandarkha Batamaloo, Hazuri Bagh near Children’s Park and SRTC Pratap Park, with the aim of accommodating over 3,000 registered vendors. Additionally, in March 2021, LG Manoj Sinha had inaugurated the Rs 4 crore Smart Vendor Hawker Zone project at Jahangir Chowk, which was expected to provide space for 250 vendors, along with amenities like solar lighting, vending kiosks, restaurants, water ATMs, vending machines and parking facilities. Despite these efforts, many vendors continue to operate in unauthorized areas, exacerbating the city’s congestion.
Commuters and locals have expressed frustration over the ongoing encroachment. “It’s impossible to get through some of these areas during peak hours.” said Asif Ahmad, a resident of Dalgate. “I don’t know why these zones were set up if vendors are still allowed to take over major roads,” added Imtiyaz, a resident of Batamaloo.
Street vendors, however, argue that they are being unfairly targeted without a concrete rehabilitation plan. Many have been selling goods for decades and rely on these earnings for survival. “We are not against regulation, but where do we go? The promised vending zones are not enough,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a vendor at Jahangir Chowk.
“We were promised proper vending zones, but nothing has changed. We are still being forced to operate on roadsides, facing harassment from authorities,” said Mushtaq Ali, a vendor from Lal Chowk. Another vendor, Arshad from Soura, added, “We are just trying to earn a living. Instead of providing us with proper spaces, they keep confiscating our carts. Where else are we supposed to go?”
Nasir Sofi, President of the Street Vendors Coordination Committee, said, “They provided us with a vending zone in Batmaloo, but it’s only temporary. There are 600 vendors in Batmaloo, and the arrangement isn’t permanent. On top of that, we still haven’t received the proper documentation or papers. In Magarmal Bagh, near Khalsa School, the situation is even worse. The authorities have provided fewer carts than needed, and some vendors have no designated space at all. They suggested operating in shifts, but that’s not a viable solution — it will only lead to losses for us.”
“The SMC continuously removes our carts during their drives, but they haven’t given us a proper space to relocate to. There’s also a court ruling on the relocation of street vendors, which states that authorities cannot displace us without ensuring we have a secure and alternative space to operate from. We need a long-term solution, not temporary fixes,” he added.
Despite the authorities’ efforts to regulate street vending, enforcement remains a challenge. Suhail Nabi Chintaaz, Chief Enforcement Officer at SMC, stated, “Setting up carts without proper authorization is an offense. We have designated vending spaces in areas like Mecca Market and others, but many vendors continue to operate in unauthorized locations, which violates regulations. Despite repeated warnings, they set up their carts in restricted areas, leading to congestion and obstruction of public spaces.”
In response to these violations, SMC has conducted multiple eviction drives in Lal Chowk, Batamaloo, and other high-traffic areas, but the vendors often return within days. “We regularly conduct enforcement drives to address these violations and impose fines on those operating illegally in different parts of the city. Our goal is not just to remove unauthorized vendors but to create a structured system that benefits both vendors and the public,” Chintaaz said.
While authorities attempt to regulate street vending, the lack of a concrete relocation plan has left the situation unresolved. Street vendors continue to operate in unauthorized areas, while the designated vending zones remain underutilized or inaccessible. Until a structured solution is implemented, Srinagar’s streets are likely to remain congested, with vendors and authorities locked in an ongoing standoff.
