The vending zones proposed by the Tiruchirapalli City Corporation have been met with disappointment by the pavement vendors in the city.
They have pleaded for fresh census of the roadside traders and re-structuring of the town vending committee with adequate representation for the aggrieved petty merchants.
Referring to the proposed pavement zones notified by the corporation in Tiruchi and Srirangam, pavement vendors have voiced a strong protest to the corporation’s selection of “isolated areas with bleak prospects for trade”.
The cluster of pavement vendors is located in thoroughfares such as Chathiram bus stand area, College Road, N.S.B. Road, Teppakulam, Big Bazar Road, and Singarathoppe.
“Compare these areas with isolated zones such as Malaikovil in Tiruverambur and the stretch between the East Bouleward Road and Big Bazaar Street,” says A. Ahamed Kabir, district president of the pavement vendors unit of the Manitha Neya Varthaga Nala Sangam, who submitted a memorandum to the District Collector here on Monday.
He said the corporation should desist from clearing the present pavement vendors who were eking out their livelihood by selling low-priced domestic utensils footwear and flowers catering to the need of common masses.
The memorandum sought issue of identity cards and implementation of insurance scheme for the pavement vendors.
A fresh census of pavement vendors should be taken by the Corporation and due representation for the pavement vendors should be included in the town vending committee, he said.
