Srinagar, Apr 29: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has warned of strict action against car and bike dealers encroaching on public spaces, even as it works on a long-term policy to rehabilitate street vendors without affecting their livelihoods.
SMC Commissioner Fazlul Haseeb on Wednesday told Asian News Hub that vendors occupying roads and footpaths for the commercial display of vehicles will not be spared. “Those car and bike vendors who are using public spaces will face strict action. If specific inputs are shared with us, we will immediately initiate action against them,” he said.
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The statement comes amid growing complaints from residents across Srinagar about increasing encroachment on footpaths by used car dealers, which has disrupted pedestrian movement and contributed to traffic congestion in several localities.
Addressing concerns around food courts and street vendors, the Commissioner acknowledged that past measures have largely been temporary. “We have tried band-aid solutions in the past, but they do not sustain in the long run,” he said, adding that the corporation is now working on a comprehensive policy framework.
He said the proposed plan aims to relocate vendors to designated spaces in a structured manner, ensuring both urban order and economic viability. “There is a question of bread and butter as well. We cannot ignore livelihoods. Our effort is to relocate and rehabilitate vendors in such a way that public spaces are freed while their source of income remains intact,” he added.
The move, officials said, is expected to streamline street vending, reduce congestion, and create regulated vending zones that could also contribute to municipal revenue generation.
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The issue of encroachments—ranging from vehicle displays to informal food stalls—has long posed a challenge for urban management in Srinagar, often pitting civic regulation against livelihood concerns. With the SMC now signalling a dual approach of enforcement and rehabilitation, residents hope for a more sustainable resolution to the problem.
