Dehradun Municipal Corporation has started preparations to develop 25 high-tech smart vending zones across the city with the aim of promoting self-employment and improving traffic management. The initiative is expected to bring relief from traffic jams caused by unregulated street vending while providing organized spaces for fruit and vegetable sellers.
At the municipal level, a list of identified sites has been prepared by the land section and sent to the Public Works Department for cost estimation. Once estimates are finalized, construction work will begin. The project focuses on balancing livelihood opportunities for vendors with smoother traffic movement in busy urban areas.
Currently, street vendors occupy lanes, footpaths and major intersections across Dehradun, with a large number of carts operating illegally. While the municipal corporation is continuing its anti-encroachment drives, it is simultaneously working on providing designated vending spaces so that vendors can operate without disrupting public movement.
Officials believe that the creation of structured vending zones will significantly reduce roadside congestion and improve overall traffic flow. At present, three smart vending zones are operational at Six Number Pulia, Patel Nagar and Jakhan. These zones function under a fixed rental system for fruit and vegetable kiosks, a model that will also be followed in the new vending zones.
Proposed locations for the upcoming vending zones include major roads such as Rajpur Road, Chakrata Road, Lalpul, Raipur Road, Banjarawala and Tapovan Road. After a joint survey with the traffic police, areas like Rajpur, R Kedia, Mohkampur, Harrawala, Nawada and Banjarawala have been shortlisted for development.
According to estimates, around 15,000 street carts are currently operating in Dehradun, while only about 1,800 licenses have been issued. Licenses are meant for mobile vending, but many carts remain permanently stationed outside designated areas, contributing heavily to traffic congestion. Permanent vending outside approved zones is considered illegal under existing rules.
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Municipal Commissioner Namami Bansal said the survey process has been completed and the estimation work is underway. She added that once operational, the 25 smart vending zones will create large-scale employment opportunities for economically weaker sections while ensuring better regulation of street vending in the city.
