GVMC to launch three smart street vending zones by March

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has initiated steps to launch three smart street vending zones in the city by March. Tenders were finalised in the first week of February and currently the civic body is working on finalising a standardised container model to be allotted to eligible beneficiary vendors.

The three vending zones are at Yendada, Old Jail Road, and near the Duvvada Flyover. According to officials, the Yendada and Duvvada zones will accommodate 70 units each, while the Old Jail Road facility will have 110 units, making it the largest among the three. The initiative aims to provide organised and well-equipped vending spaces while addressing the issues of encroachments on footpaths and roads.

The decision to establish vending zones was taken following approval from the GVMC council a month ago. The move comes in the backdrop of the GVMC’s enforcement drive under operation Life to Urban Green Spaces (LUNGS), during which unauthorised vendors operating on roadsides and footpaths across various zones were cleared. GVMC officials stated that the objective of the drive was to improve pedestrian accessibility and ensure smoother traffic flow, while simultaneously planning alternative arrangements for genuine vendors.

GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg informed that a contractor has already been appointed for the project. The civic body will undertake the required civil works, including laying proper pathways, ensuring drinking water supply, and creating basic public amenities. The vending units will be container-based kiosks equipped with smart features such as solar power facilities, CCTV surveillance and other essential infrastructure to promote safe and modernised street vending.

He further explained that the project will follow a shared financial model, with GVMC and the Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) contributing one-third share each, while the remaining one-third will be borne by the beneficiary vendors. At present, MEPMA officials are in the process of identifying eligible vendors for allotment in the three zones.

In addition to these locations, the Urban Community Wing of the GVMC is also surveying the city to identify 21 more suitable sites for setting up similar smart street vending zones in the future, signalling a broader push towards structured urban vending and improved public convenience.