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Street Hawkers- Metropolitan drawback or Economic potential?

“The magic of the street is the mingling of the Hawkers

and the Pedestrians”

Thesis/Argument

Hawkers stalls provide character to the place and make the space vibrant. But they
affect the traffic and the Pedestrian movement. Should they be banned from the
footpaths or should they be allowed with some solution or should they be shifted to
specific zones?

Summary

Over a period of time, Hawkers food stalls on footpath have become the point of attraction
for the people. They give certain character to the place wherever they are installed. These
food stalls are owned by unemployed or uneducated and poor people. Some of the stalls are
licensed and approved by the government but most of them are found to be illegal. These
illegal stalls have created chaos in cities like Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and so on. they re
so heavily spread on footpaths that Pedestrians do not find their way to walk so they
ultimately starts waking onto the road affecting traffic movement. They do not have any
proper waste disposal nor the parking.

Instead of banning their stalls and making them unemployed, one has to think the other way
around as in how can this problem be solved without having any of the consequences.
Footpaths where such stalls are installed can be widen if possible and designed in such a
way that these vendors can run their stalls and the pedestrians are left with enough space to
walk. Also, the Parking issue can be solved by either providing alternate days Parking or
Hawkers encroachment affecting the Pedestrian flow and Traffic Movement but also giving character to the place
creating edge conditions at certain points for vehicles Parking. At many places, due to lesser
area it is not possible to provide space for Food stalls. Such Food stalls can be transferred to
the other places where there is sufficient open area. These spaces can be made a “Fast Food
Point” and it can be designed in interesting way with all the Facilities like Toilets, Seating's
and Washing area to attract the people.

In addition, it is the duty of vendor to think of Parking facility, wet and dry waste disposal,
washing area and much more before installing the Food stall. Most important aspect is to
sell food items of good quality maintaining the public hygiene.
References
Bhowmik, S. (Mar, 2017). Hawkers and the Urban informal sector: A study of street vending inseven
cities.

Welankar, P. (Dec 26,2018). Footpath spaces on rent in pune, civil body slow in taking action. Hindustan See also Prajyot Dugad | PD
Times, Pune.
10 - Street vendors- Chaos or Character
Yadav, L. (Aug 18,2018). Footpaths: pushing Pedestrians off the footpath. pg. 7-8 60 - Pedestrianization and inclusion of street vendors
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