Kolkata: A report on hawker rehabilitation in New Town since its inception, published by the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA), shows that till date, the total number of street vendors and hawkers in New Town stands at 2,957.
Out of this number, NKDA has already prepared 1,931 vending stalls in 14 NKDA hawker markets, where hawkers are being rehabilitated in a phased manner.
As per the survey report, the remaining 1,026 hawkers were recently identified through a joint survey by NKDA, the local police authorities, and the hawkers' union. The authorities are working on the process to issue ID cards to these identified hawkers for their rehabilitation.
NKDA has been conducting the survey since early last year. The authorities found that street vendors have been doing business on the roadsides of several streets at 19 different locations across New Town, such as in front of Ram Mandir Island, Atharotala Junction, Central Mall, Axis Mall, Amity University, and other places.
"About 65% of the existing street vendors have already been rehabilitated, and provision for the rehabilitation of the remaining 35% of street vendors is needed.
NKDA has sought suitable land from West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBHIDCO) to set up new hawker markets in New Town with state govt funds," said an official.
Officials said the process to set up another hawkers' market near Central Mall is ongoing, with plans to rehabilitate 211 street vendors.
Officials also mentioned that close to 400 vendors, who, in the name of being long-time hawkers, made fresh encroachments on the roadside and footpath space in the last few years. The authorities have been conducting a drive to clear these encroachments. "Only registered hawkers and street vendors identified by NKDA are eligible for rehabilitation," said an official.