Pune: Street Vendors’ Issues Discussed At City Hawkers Committee Meet; Demand To Halt Forced Fee Collection
Pune: Street Vendors’ Issues Discussed At City Hawkers Committee Meet; Demand To Halt Forced Fee Collection
Pune, April 8, 2026:
A detailed discussion on pending issues faced by street vendors, handcart operators, and stall owners was held during the City Hawkers Committee meeting in Pune, with members urging the administration to suspend forced fee collection until further deliberations are completed.
The meeting, held on April 7 at the Pune Municipal Corporation office, focused on ensuring justice for licensed vendors, strengthening coordination between authorities and vendors, and implementing the street vendor policy in a fair and transparent manner.
Key issues raised included delays in biometric surveys, renewal of vendor certificates, demarcation of hawking zones, provision of alternative spaces for vendors affected by metro works, alleged wrongful anti-encroachment drives, and concerns over forced fee recovery.
The meeting was attended by Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, Additional Commissioner Navneet Kaur, Deputy Commissioner Somnath Bankar, and other senior officials, along with committee members representing vendor groups.
During the discussions, members highlighted that biometric surveys of several old licensed vendors—including stall holders, handcart operators, and permit book holders—remain incomplete. In cases involving inheritance or transfer disputes, it was demanded that surveys be prioritised to avoid further delays.
Concerns were also raised regarding certificate renewals. Members demanded that the validity of existing certificates be extended until a final decision is taken and that no punitive action be initiated against authorised vendors during this period.
The committee further urged authorities to immediately issue pending bills to vendors from whom fees have been demanded, to streamline the payment process. It was also pointed out that nearly 1,800 licensed vendors have not paid fees, and proposals to cancel their certificates are under consideration. Members requested that these vendors be granted a final extension to clear dues.
In light of population growth and rising employment needs in the 23 recently merged villages under PMC limits, the committee stressed the need to identify and develop new hawking zones.
Another major concern raised was the alleged lack of coordination between civic authorities and police. Members noted that while the municipal corporation continues to collect fees from authorised vendors, police action in some areas has led to shutdowns, causing confusion and hardship. It was demanded that no action be taken against officially registered vendors who are complying with PMC norms.
The impact of ongoing metro projects on street vendors was also discussed. Many vendors have reportedly been unable to operate due to construction activities. In this context, the committee demanded a complete waiver of fees collected from vendors whose businesses remained shut during the metro work period.
Members emphasised that the administration must adopt a sympathetic and practical approach to safeguard the livelihoods of thousands of street vendors across the city.
