Shimla: In a bid to regulate street vending and maintain order on city streets, the Shimla Municipal Corporation has launched a new street vending policy, which imposes strict penalties on traders who allow vendors to set up outside their shops without permission. Under the new policy, aimed at curbing the growing issue of illegal vending in the capital city, the fines for repeat offenders will rise to ₹10,000.
As per the policy, shopkeepers will receive a warning and a nominal fine for the first time violation. If vendors are found outside the shop for the second time, the fine will increase to ₹5,000. On the third violation, a maximum fine of ₹10,000 will be imposed. The initiative is part of a larger effort to bring order to Shimla’s congested streets, where vendors often stand without proper authorisation, causing disruption in public spaces.
The implementation of the new policy will begin in December 2024, after the festival season. The municipal corporation will not take any action till the festivals are over, to avoid disruption in business during the busy months of October and November. However, the corporation will start strictly enforcing the rules across the city once the holiday season is over.
Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh has directed the municipal corporation to create clear boundaries for legal vending spaces by marking blue lines in designated areas. Only registered vendors with valid identity cards issued by the corporation will be allowed to operate in these areas. The municipal corporation has already surveyed the vending areas and will videograph these areas to ensure proper implementation.
The increase in the number of unregistered vendors has been a persistent problem, with some shop owners allowing them to take up space outside their premises in exchange for money. This has not only led to congestion on the streets but has also disrupted the city’s organised vending system. The new policy aims to eliminate these practices by making business owners accountable and regulating street vending in a more systematic manner.
With the upcoming action, the Shimla Municipal Corporation is determined to ensure that the city’s vendors operate within legal limits, helping to reduce congestion and maintain order on the streets.
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