Chennai Corporation Bans Roadside Shops on 22 Major Roads
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has announced new rules prohibiting roadside stalls on 22 major roads in the city, citing traffic congestion and public convenience.
Background
The Corporation has identified around 35,000 roadside vendors and issued them identity cards. To streamline vending zones, elections were held in June to select committees for each zone. About 33,000 vendors cast their votes, and a six-member committee was chosen for every zone. The list has been forwarded to the state government for approval.
Key Rules Implemented
-
Roadside stalls are not permitted on 22 major roads, including:
-
Valluvar Kottam Road
-
Wallaja Road
-
Greenways Road
-
T.T.K. Road
-
Nelson Manickam Road
-
Anna Salai
-
Poonamallee High Road
-
Arcot Road
-
GST Road
-
…and other important stretches.
-
-
Stalls are prohibited within 100 meters of schools and hospitals.
-
Stalls are prohibited within 150 meters of major government offices and transport hubs.
Enforcement
To ensure compliance, four officers have been deputed in each zone to remove unauthorized shops. Recently, more than 70 roadside stalls were removed in areas including Anna Nagar.
Corporation officials emphasized that the new rules aim to balance the livelihoods of vendors with the safety and convenience of the public.
