Kochi Corporation’s survey in progress to identify vendors for rehabilitation

Project part of efforts to clear encroachments from public spaces

The Kochi Corporation will shortly complete a survey commissioned to finalise a list of vendors who are eligible for rehabilitation in vending zones that are to be identified in different parts of the city. This follows complaints from the police and the public about unscrupulous vendors carrying out organised encroachment on footpaths and public spaces, to the point of obstructing the safe movement of pedestrians and motorists. Many NGOs and residents’ associations too had demanded action against vendors establishing kiosks and pushcarts on even newly-laid footpaths which had tactile tiles to guide visually challenged people. Mayor M. Anilkumar said the survey to compile a list of vendors who would qualify for rehabilitation could not be completed due to the second wave of the pandemic. “A notification on vending zones will follow. However, rehabilitation cannot be claimed as a right and only those who qualify on the basis of the survey will be rehabilitated,” he said.