‘Unscientific' vending zone on RKV Rd set for redesign

Time of India

30-07-2025

T'puram: A week after city corporation officials inspected the smart vending zone on RKV Road near Museum, major design flaws have come to light. As a result, plans are underway to demolish half of the 12 newly constructed kiosks, which lie vacant in front of 22 existing shops.
The vending zone, built in 2022 under the Smart City project to rehabilitate street vendors along the Museum stretch, has largely failed to serve its purpose. Of the 22 shops, only seven—mainly tea stalls—remain operational. Vendors blame the poor turnout on the 12-module kiosk block, which obstructs visibility from the road.
"Business is too low. I can't make ends meet," said Unni, a tea shop owner in the area for over 26 years.
"The zone was built unscientifically. Rainwater leaks in constantly, so we've had to use tarpaulin sheets above the kiosks," he added.
Vimalakumari, who commutes daily from Pravachambalam, said, "Many vendors have stopped opening their shops. We're not paying rent to the corporation because we're barely making any sales."
Ramachandran, who has run a shop there for two decades, echoed similar concerns. "Business was much better before this so-called smart zone was built.
Now, police restrict tourist vehicles on this road and the new kiosks block our visibility. We need an urgent solution to sustain our livelihood."
Sources said the civic body now plans to demolish six of the 12 vacant kiosks and build new structures on the opposite side of the road to restore visibility and improve footfall. Vendors have also demanded relocation.
The current structure has multiple design flaws, including poor-quality roofing, gaps that cause rainwater leakage, PVC shutters instead of iron ones and cramped interiors.
Vendors have widely described the zone as "unscientific" and unsuitable for business. A Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) official said that discussions are ongoing to address the concerns but confirmed that no formal decision has been made.
"We are not yet aware of the corporation's plans," the official added.
The vending zone, inaugurated in April 2022 as part of a Rs 3-crore Smart City project, was designed to host up to 46 vendors across 34 modules. However, due to poor planning and low customer turnout, only a handful are currently functioning. A 2023 SCTL proposal to redesign the zone and procure mobile vending units also stalled without updates.
Corporation officials now say redesign efforts have begun, incorporating vendor feedback on roofing, visibility and drainage.
Demolition estimates are being prepared, and funding for the new structure is under consideration.