Dibrugarh vendors back on footpaths after relocating

Dibrugarh: Street vendors in Dibrugarh town have once again set up their stalls on the footpaths, disregarding the relocation orders issued by the Dibrugarh Municipal Board four months ago.In August, the civic body had notified six designated vending zones in an effort to streamline traffic flow, ensure pedestrian safety and maintain cleanliness in the town.The street vendors were then gradually relocated to the designated vending zones in Dibrugarh town located at the RKB Road, AT Road, Khalihamari Road, Graham Bazar Road, Paltan Bazar Road, and Assam Medical College Road. Similarly, the street food vendors were also relocated to a new site near the Dibrugarh police reserve which was named as “Khau Galli” (food street).However, the vendors have now chosen to return to the footpaths, citing inconveniently-located vending zones and a decline in customer footfall.The return of the vendors has sparked concerns among citizens of the bustling town which is grappling with the challenges posed by unregulated street vending. Residents have also voiced their grievances regarding the cleanliness and hygiene maintained by the vendors.“The return of the vendors on the footpaths has once again resulted in a chaotic situation in the town. They have once again set up their stalls occupying the footpaths on all the major roads. It is hampering movement of pedestrians. People are forced to step onto the busy roads to avoid the cluttered footpaths. The civic body should formulate a plan that strikes a balance between the livelihoods of the vendors and the convenience of the public,” said Bhaskar Gogoi, a local resident.Dibrugarh Municipal Board (DMB) chairman Saikat Patra while admitting that the “vending zones” did not achieve the expected results, vowed to intensify enforcement efforts and ensure that the designated vending zones are strictly adhered to. “We have created specified vending zones for streamlining the street vendors of the town but even after four months it has not achieved the expected results. Most of the vendors returned to their earlier locations. However, the relocation order will be strictly implemented with the help of the district administration. Strict action will be taken against the vendors.”Kishan Shah, a street vendor who runs a fast food stall on the RKB Road, said, “Some of the designated Jvending zones are situated in inconvenient locations, far away from our regular customer base. Due to financial losses we decided to return to our previous vending sites.”