Guwahati is set to undertake a comprehensive two-month survey of its roadside vendors, a move announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, with the explicit goal of reserving economic space for indigenous traders. A senior spokesperson for the BJP, addressing a press conference on Sunday, clarified that the exercise is designed to identify and remove non-local vendors currently occupying city footpaths, thereby carving out systematic livelihood opportunities for local communities.
According to the spokesperson, Guwahati's footpaths, intended primarily for pedestrian use, have seen a surge in occupation by vendors from outside the state. This unchecked presence, he highlighted, has significantly narrowed the economic avenues available to indigenous residents. The ultimate aim, he added, is to facilitate indigenous communities in conducting their businesses in an organised manner, whether on designated footpaths or beneath city bridges, following the initial identification and relocation of non-local vendors.
The spokesperson further linked the unregulated vending activities to pressing civic challenges faced by the city, including urban flooding and persistent traffic congestion. He alleged that vendors often dispose of waste directly into drains instead of designated bins, exacerbating waterlogging issues, while their unorganised presence on thoroughfares contributes to traffic bottlenecks. This initiative, therefore, not only addresses economic equity but also seeks to mitigate these broader urban problems.
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