In the light of growing demand for regulation of hawkers, the State Government issued a new set of guidelines in March this year that seek to facilitate hawking without inconveniencing vehicle-users and pedestrians.
With the new set of rules set to be implemented in August this year by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) as per a direction of the High Court, the civic body is expected to crack the whip.
The rules issued in the form of a notification from the Department of Urban Development will be applicable in areas under the BBMP and other towns and cities of the State.
According to the rules, hawking will be permitted only if it does not obstruct the movement of traffic or pedestrians.
Hawkers can only operate on designated roads between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and they will have to pay a fee to the urban local body concerned. In addition, only one member of a family will be given licence.
Moreover, hawking will not be permitted on roads that are less than eight metres in width, in residential areas and in localities where trading and commercial activities are prohibited. Hawking will also be prohibited on footbridges, over bridges and within 100 metres of places of worship, shrines, educational institutions or any market.
Hawkers will not be able to use carts and they will not be allowed to trade in electronic items such as audio and video goods, cassettes and cameras. However, they can sell food items, cut fruits and cooked items.
