J’khand’s first multi-storied vendors’ market yet to be made operational
The four-storied building, built at a cost of Rs 54 crore to rehabilitate 472 street vendors, was inaugurated amid much fanfare on November 16 by chief minister Raghubar Das
RANCHI: Jharkhand’s first multistoried vendor’s market, which was inaugurated with much fanfare on November 16 by the chief minister Raghbur Das, has still not been made operational. The operation of the market is expected to take place from next year, RMC officials said.
Street vendors, who were asked not to put up stalls on road during inauguration of the market, continue to encroach portions of busy roads, causing traffic chaos on Kutchery-Albert Ekka Chowk stretch. RMC officials said the civic body was yet to allot shops to vendors.
A visually impaired Vinay Jain, who was among three hawkers to get vendor’s certificate and identity card during inaugural function, said, “After the inauguration of the market, there is no communication from the RMC officials. When approached, the officials said vendors would be allowed to put up stalls after completion of shop allotment process.”
Out of 472 vendors, Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) had identified 127 vendors for distribution of vendors’ certificates and identity cards for allowing trade in the market complex in the first phase.
The four-storied building was built on 2.94 lakh sqft area at a cost of Rs 54 crore. The market has 472 kiosks for street vendors on ground and first floor. On the second floor, 108 shops were built while 23 offices were constructed on the third floor. A banquet hall was constructed on the fourth floor.
Ranchi Footpath Dukandar Sangh (RFDS) office bearers claimed the RMC had assured them to begin the process of shop allotments from November 17. But, neither vendor’s certificates nor shop allotment were made to them till date.
“Three hawkers were given vendor’s certificates by the CM as token distribution, while rest was told that they would be given the certificates by RMC officials. Excluding three, none of the hawker got the certificate till date,” RFDS general secretary Anita Das said.
Das said there were irregularities in selection process of hawkers. “RMC wanted shop allotment in phased manner. But, we have requested to select all 472 hawkers and allot them shops through lottery. No representative of town vending committee (TVC) had participated in the inaugural function of the market,” she said.
Das added, “RMC now wants certification for 472 hawkers out of 660 found in a hawkers’ survey in the stretch between Kutchery to Albert Ekka Chowk.”
However, RMC officials said shops would be allotted after fixing rates of shops and hiring agency for maintenance of the market.
“Under Jharkhand buildings (lease, rent and eviction) control Act, sub-divisional officer (SDO) is the competent authority for fixing rates. We are yet to receive the rate,” said RMC additional municipal commissioner (AMC) Girja Shankar Prasad, adding, once we get the rates, we will start allotment of shops.
He said the SDO office would provide the base rate while RMC would add charges for facilities.
Prasad said a private agency would also be hired for maintenance of market and a tender in this regard would be floated soon.
He said they were making all efforts to start the vendor’s market in December.
STREET VENDORS, WHO WERE ASKED NOT TO PUT UP STALLS ON ROAD DURING INAUGURATION OF THE MARKET, CONTINUE TO ENCROACH PORTIONS OF BUSY ROADS, CAUSING TRAFFIC CHAOS ON KUTCHERY-ALBERT EKKA CHOWK STRETCH