Chandigarh is set to introduce standardised, colour-coded carts for registered street vendors under a cost-sharing model, with the proposal scheduled for review by the Town Vending Committee on October 28. The customised carts are designed to provide dedicated storage and built-in weather protection while creating a more uniform appearance across designated vending zones.
The cart specifications and overall layout have been forwarded to the Chandigarh administration’s urban planning department after recommendations from a dedicated subcommittee. The subcommittee reviewed vendor zones and incorporated feedback from trade unions, market welfare associations and resident welfare groups before the proposal was placed on the TVC agenda.
The initiative is intended to bring greater consistency to street vending areas and improve working conditions for vendors. The proposal states that the carts would “ensure uniformity, proper appearance and orderly development of vending zones and to provide protection from weather conditions.”
Design presentations for the carts have been prepared by the chief architect and municipal architect for evaluation by the Town Vending Committee. The designs are expected to be assessed alongside the proposed trade-specific specifications, since the carts are being customised to meet the requirements of different types of vendors.
The financial model will require vendors and the municipal corporation to share the cost of the carts. The report does not specify the contribution expected from individual vendors or the total number of carts proposed under the initiative. Those details would need to be settled as part of the approval and implementation process.
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 identified sites include Ramdarbar, Bapudham, Raipur Kalan, Manimajra and sectors 26, 45 and 52.
The proposed vending-zone works extend the initiative beyond cart design. They link the appearance and functionality of individual vending units with the physical infrastructure around them, including weather protection, storage arrangements and lighting. The locations listed in the estimate cover established residential and mixed-use areas across Chandigarh’s municipal landscape.
The Town Vending Committee’s October 28 meeting will determine whether the proposal receives formal approval. The committee’s decision will also indicate how the cost-sharing arrangement, cart specifications and model vending-zone works move forward.
