Kolkata: The hawker survey conducted by Kolkata Municipal Corporation has identified 55,000 hawkers in various hawking zones like the Gariahat-Ballygunge belt, New Market-Chowringhee belt, Hatibagan, Chandni Chowk, Sealdah, Bowbazar, College Street, S N Banerjee Road, BBD Bag, Burrabazar, Behala, New Alipore, Tollygunge and Bhowanipore.
The hawker survey had begun a couple of months ago following a prod by chief minister Mamata Banerjee in June.In the first phase, around 8,000 hawkers were found in the surveys carried out in Gariahat, Hatibagan and New Market areas. Later, the scope of the hawker survey was extended to hawking areas in all 144 KMC wards.
“We have completed the first three phases of the hawker survey. The findings will be drafted and a report will be submitted to the CM’s office. We will discuss the matter with the chief minister and seek her direction on the next course of action,” said mayor Firhad Hakim on Saturday. According to a KMC official, who was part of the hawker survey, the civic body had formed a 350-member team to conduct the survey in the hawking hubs.
The details collected from the hawker survey include address of residence, hawking spot, Aadhaar card details, hawker’s photograph and the goods being sold. “The data that has been collected will be vetted against two earlier surveys conducted in 2015 and 2022. Once finalised, these data will be uploaded on the app along with geo-fencing of the hawking spot, ” said a KMC official.
The app will be available to civic officials who will conduct surprise checks. This will help easy identification of “genuine” hawkers against “ghost” ones, curb uncontrolled hawker influx and prevent the sub-letting or sale of pavement space, for lakhs of rupees.