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NDMC issues strict order against illegal vending in and around Connaught Place.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has decided to increase its crackdown on illegal vending and encroachment in Connaught Place and surrounding areas. Under the new instructions, action will be taken against unauthorized vendors selling goods on the roadside after the stipulated time. Instructions have been given to increase monitoring on vending especially after 6:30 pm.
According to NDMC, special surveillance will be maintained around Connaught Place, Janpath, Palika Bazaar, Regal, Rivoli, Hanuman Temple and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. Officials have been asked to ensure that there is no unauthorised sale or encroachment in the no-vending zone.
These instructions were issued after a meeting held on September 14. In the meeting, joint directors and inspectors were instructed to review their respective areas and take immediate action if encroachments occur again.
Why is vending prohibited after 6:30 pm?
According to the NDMC order, vendors will remove their goods from their vending sites after the stipulated time. Also, no sale of any kind will be allowed in the no-vending zone. The aim is to maintain adequate space for pedestrians and traffic in congested areas.
The civic body has also said that authorised vendors will have to prominently display their valid Tehbazari certificate along with photograph. If required, they will also have to present the original documents before the concerned authorities.
Action may be taken against sellers who do not follow the instructions. In case of repeated violation of rules, there is a provision for taking action against the relevant permission or certificate.
There will also be strict surveillance around Janpath and the Hanuman Temple.
The NDMC has not limited its action to Connaught Place alone. Instructions have also been given to keep an eye on unauthorized vendors and encroachment around Janpath and Hanuman Temple. There has been talk of continuous monitoring and enforcement operations in these areas.
Instructions have also been given to the officials to run a special campaign around the Hanuman temple. Regional inspectors have been asked to identify places where repeated complaints or incidents of encroachment are reported.
NDMC is emphasizing that public paths, footpaths and roads should not be obstructed due to vending activities. This is expected to help in maintaining smooth movement of pedestrians.
Palika Bazaar, Regal, and Rivoli are also under surveillance.
In addition to Connaught Place, surveillance will also be increased around Palika Bazaar, Regal, and Rivoli. These areas are among the major commercial and tourist areas of Delhi, where a large number of people visit throughout the day.
NDMC officials have been asked to ensure that unauthorised vendors do not carry out activities outside the designated places and timings. In case of repeated encroachment, enforcement teams will have to take immediate action.
The civic body’s directives also state that vendors should not place goods on the footpath or road in a manner that affects the movement of pedestrians or vehicles.
Rules have also been set for authorized vendors.
The NDMC order clarifies rules not only for unauthorized vending, but also for authorized vendors. They will be allowed to do business only at their designated place and within the permitted time.
Sellers will have to display their Tehbazari certificate on the spot. They will have to show the original certificates when asked for documents during inspection by the officials.
Under the rules, vendors will also have to avoid obstructing the footpath, encroaching the road or erecting temporary structures. Its purpose is to keep public places organized.
Officials are also held accountable for negligence in preventing encroachment.
NDMC has also fixed the responsibilities of regional officials. Joint directors and inspectors have been asked to regularly review the situation in their areas and increase field inspections at sensitive locations.
If encroachment is repeatedly observed in any area and negligence is found in stopping or reporting it, action can also be taken against the concerned officials.
It is clear that instead of just running the campaign, NDMC also wants to monitor its continuous compliance. Now the regular activities of field inspection and enforcement teams will be important in the implementation of this order.
Monitoring of vending in Connaught Place will continue.
Following the NDMC’s new directives, monitoring of vending activities in Connaught Place and surrounding areas will increase during the evening hours. The main focus of the administration is on removing encroachments from no-vending zones and stopping vending activities after the stipulated time.
At the same time, it will be necessary for roadside vendors to follow the rules related to authorized place and valid certificate. On one hand, this will be an effort to keep public roads organized, while on the other hand, the responsibility of operating the authorized vending system as per the rules will also increase.
Now in the coming days it remains to be seen how strictly the instructions of NDMC are implemented on the ground and how much change occurs in the situation of encroachment in Connaught Place, Janpath and the surrounding major markets.
