Vendors group calls street vending ban ‘anti-poor’, seeks rollback

The Karnataka Pragathi Para Beedhi Vyaparigala Sangha has opposed the proposed policy by the State government and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to ban street vending on arterial and sub-arterial roads in the city, terming it illegal, unconstitutional, and detrimental to the livelihoods of the urban poor. The association warned that protests would begin if the proposal is not withdrawn. 

This comes a day after Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, during a pre-GBA budget meeting on Friday (March 20), said a footpath policy will be introduced. As part of the policy, street vendors are expected to be barred from doing commercial activities on arterial and sub-arterial roads.