Chandigarh is preparing a standardised cart system for registered street vendors, with colour-coded designs, built-in weather protection and storage facilities under a proposed cost-sharing model. The Town Vending Committee (TVC) is scheduled to consider the proposal on October 28, making the committee’s decision the next formal step for the plan.
The proposed carts have been customised according to the needs of different trades and are intended to create greater uniformity across designated vending areas. Their design includes built-in weather sheds and dedicated storage space, features that the municipal corporation says are aimed at improving the working conditions and appearance of vending zones.
The cart specifications and the overall layout have been sent to the Chandigarh administration’s urban planning department. The designs were developed after recommendations from a dedicated subcommittee that reviewed vendor zones and incorporated feedback from trade unions, market welfare associations and resident welfare groups.
The initiative is listed on the TVC agenda with the stated objectives of ensuring “uniformity, proper appearance and orderly development of vending zones” and providing protection from weather conditions. The chief architect and municipal architect have prepared design presentations for the committee’s consideration.
The financial model proposed by the municipal corporation would involve cost-sharing between the relevant stakeholders. The available proposal does not specify the contribution expected from individual vendors, the final price of each cart or the number of carts to be supplied. These details will be important for determining how accessible the scheme is to registered vendors and how it will be implemented across different vending locations.
Separately, the municipal engineering department has prepared an estimate of ₹2.6 crore for constructing model vending zones and installing lighting at multiple locations. The sites identified include Ramdarbar, Bapudham, Raipur Kalan, Manimajra and sectors 26, 45 and 52.
The plan places street vending within a broader municipal framework involving urban design, public-space management and vendor regulation. For vendors, the immediate question is how the proposed standardised carts and cost-sharing arrangement will affect daily operations and household expenses. For residents and market groups, the proposed layouts and lighting are intended to bring more order to vending areas while retaining designated spaces for informal commerce.
The proposal remains subject to consideration and formal approval by the Town Vending Committee. The committee’s October 28 meeting is expected to determine whether the cart designs, vending-zone layouts and related infrastructure proposal move forward.
