Street vendors function in fear as BBMP fails to renew permits

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Street vendors in the city are faced with an uncertain future since their vending certificates, which were issued by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in 2018, have expired. According to the president of the union, Babu, the BBMP conducted a survey of street vendors in 2017 and issued ID cards and vending certificates to them.

However, despite reminding the civic agency several times, the officials have not taken any action regarding their renewal, which has left the poor vendors in fear of being harassed either by the BBMP or police officials for operating without valid documents. "The certificates will expire on February 4," Babu told News Trail.

"The Bengaluru Jilla Beedhi Vayapari Sanghatanegala Okkuta has twice written to the Special Commissioner, Welfare, in December last year and again a few days back, requesting to extend our certificates," he said.

Babu also had requested the Special Commissioner to inform the police stations about the delay in certificate renewals. A large number of vendors led by Babu gathered at the BBMP office on Thursday after which Commissioner Raju assured them the “matter would be resolved at the earliest”.