Street Smart Street Marts

The population of towns and cities across India is gradually increasing. This is a process fuelled by large numbers of migrants from rural areas moving to urban centres in search of jobs. Most of them lack specialised skills and as such end up working as daily wage labour. Some of the more enterprising ones take to street-side vending, selling basic commodities. Their success is dependent on minimal overheads and effectively meeting the supply needs of large numbers of low income residents like themselves.

Vending takes many different forms. At the very basic level it consists of selling fruits and vegetables from baskets carried on their head. They tend to squat in any available open space within easy reach of residential concentrations. As their conditions improve, they move up the scale to mobile vending from hand-pushed platforms to platforms attached to bicycles. This is particularly common for vendors who sell cooked foods and fruit juices, wheeling them to convenient spots across urban areas. Hand-pushed carts and cycle carts, coupled with direct selling from pavement shops, are the most common form of vending across the country.

Weekly markets held in most towns and cities are serviced entirely by street vendors. They deal in a large variety of goods that include clothes, footwear, cheap jewellery, household goods, cooked foods, fruit and vegetables. Everything is available at prices that are substantially lower than those charged by established shops. This is possible because of low overheads coupled with fast turnover. Temporary shops are set up in available open space with a system of awnings, canvas enclosures and light frameworks to hang a variety of different goods. The entire system is capable of being easily demounted and reassembled at new locations. With the growing population in urban centres today such weekly markets, along with unauthorised shopping stalls set up in various areas, meet a very real need.

Simple partly- raised platforms can be provided in suitable locations, for temporary shops where they do not obstruct vehicular and pedestrian movement

In Delhi the informal sector operates in different locations. In most major shopping centres in the city it can be clearly seen that almost half of the retail sales are done through pavement shops or by temporary stalls set up on the sidelines. These shops occupy pavement areas, car parking areas or any other available open space. They have a significant presence in most of the larger shopping centres like Lajpat Nagar, Connaught Place, Karol Bagh and other retail concentrations. Their presence is equally noticeable in many local shopping centres in South Delhi like Greater Kailash 1, Greater Kailash 2, Chittaranjan Park and also near group housing colonies. There are different ways in which areas for informal retail can be better organised to avoid creation of squalid conditions around them. Simple, partly-raised platforms can be provided in suitable locations, for temporary shops where they do not obstruct vehicular and pedestrian movement. Clearly demarcated space may be allocated to individual sellers, each with a light and power point connection. At present, lighting is powered by unauthorised connections or by portable diesel generators. On each platform simple awnings may be set up by the vendor along with a temporary enclosure for the display of goods. In the case of food stalls an additional water connection is necessary, along with a proper connection to the local sewage system. All food stalls must have arrangements for the collection and disposal of garbage and food stall owners need to be made responsible for maintaining the required minimum standards of cleanliness and hygiene. An essential requirement would be the provision of organised toilets within easy reach of food outlets.
 

It is time the authorities recognised the importance of implementing a system of control over street vending

The proper demarcation and development of vending zones at present does not form part of any plan proposals. As per the Street Vendors (Regulation of Street Vendors) Act 2014, street vendors are required to be licensed and to pay an annual License Fee. The authorities should therefore take some responsibility to identify and define suitable vending zones and also provide the minimum basic amenities required to control conditions. Proper regulations may also be drawn up to rent designated spaces for specific use and for specific time periods. A system may be devised to ensure regular handover after specified time periods, in order to ensure that individual vendors do not claim the right to occupy the same space indefinitely. Different rules will be needed for food stalls where food is cooked and served. It is time the authorities recognised the importance of implementing a system of control over street vending on a properly controlled and planned basis.

In most Indian towns and cities there are enough parks and open spaces in accessible locations where proper arrangements can be made, along with the necessary service connections and garbage removal arrangements to accommodate vending. If properly planned – keeping in mind a suitable location within easy reach of the customers they serve – such areas can help to vitalise dead spaces and bring about a new element of liveability in urban areas.

Ranjit Sabikhi is an award-winning architect, with experience in architectural education, architectural practice and urban design.