Latest news with #Jahamgeer
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Shanghumugham vendor relocation to be finalized soon
T'puram: Corporation is likely to take a final decision this week on rehabilitation of vendors at newly constructed kiosks at Shanghumugham Beach, as part of the ongoing beach beautification project. A crucial meeting is scheduled for Thursday between corporation secretary and ten traders who are currently opposing the relocation move. Corporation secretary Jahamgeer S confirmed that the civic body is hopeful of reaching an agreement that would enable the rehabilitation process to be completed by June and the revamped beach to be opened to the public in July. "Currently, only ten traders are resisting relocation. We have called a meeting this week to address their concerns and persuade them to cooperate. If all goes well, we aim to complete the process within a month and open the beach by July," Jahamgeer said. Last month, corporation held discussions with the Town Vending Committee (TVC), which agreed to relocate vendors currently occupying areas designated for new seating arrangements for tourists and visitors. The TVC, a statutory body formed under the Street Vendors Act, plays a vital role in regulating vendor welfare, issuing vending certificates and managing vendor locations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ative sua licença do antivírus agora Clique aqui Undo While most traders initially opposed the move, backed by trade unions, the situation has since evolved. Corporation launched a screening process to prevent unauthorized vending at the site. The number of registered vendors increased from 95 to 116 following heightened interest in operating at the upgraded beachfront. Among them, 16 food vendors who previously ran street food stalls will be shifted to 16 newly constructed kiosks. Allocation will be done based on vendor seniority, officials said. The Shanghumugham Beach beautification project is a joint initiative of the state tourism department, Smart City Thiruvananthapuram, corporation and district tourism promotion council.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
New life for parks in Thiruvananthapuram city through private tie-up
Thiruvananthapuram: The city corporation is in the final stages of selecting private partners to manage and maintain major parks in the capital. Earlier, the civic body had invited expressions of interest (EOI) from private agencies for the upkeep and operation of key parks, including Captain Lakshmi Park and Sree Chitra Thirunal Park. The EOI sought competent agencies capable not only of maintaining these public spaces but also of operating revenue-generating facilities such as cafeterias and kiosks. Sources said that an initial round of discussions has already been held with interested agencies, and the final selection will be made during the upcoming council meeting. The initiative is part of a broader push to improve the quality and maintenance of public spaces through sustainable public-private partnerships. According to corporation officials, selected partners will be responsible for routine cleaning, landscaping, lighting, security, and overall infrastructure maintenance. In return, they will be allowed to run small businesses—such as refreshment counters and souvenir stalls—within the park premises. Each park will have a separate private partner. Corporation secretary Jahamgeer S said the move aims to modernize and improve the management of public amenities. "We want parks to be not only clean and safe but also lively, welcoming places for the public. Collaborating with private agencies will help us bring in expertise, innovation, and better service delivery," he said. He added that the chosen parks are high-footfall areas with strong community relevance. "Captain Lakshmi Park and Sree Chitra Thirunal Park are important urban spaces. We expect agencies to submit proposals that enhance both the functionality and aesthetics of these areas," Jahamgeer noted. Interested agencies have been asked to submit their EOIs by the end of the month. Proposals will be evaluated based on prior experience, technical skills, and financial stability. Detailed guidelines and terms of reference will be shared with shortlisted applicants in the next phase. Officials said the success of this pilot project could lead to the model being expanded to include more parks and public spaces in the future.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Thiruvananthapuram corporation proposes 122 new vending zones to regulate street vendors
Thiruvananthapuram: To regulate the growing number of street vendors, city corporation proposed creating designated vending zones at 122 locations. Town vending committee prepared the draft proposal aiming to bring order to street vending activities that have mushroomed, especially after Covid pandemic. The proposed plan divides the city into vending, non-vending and partial vending zones. Some stretches, such as Kowdiar-Vellayambalam road and Vellayambalam-Thycaud Smart Road, will be declared non-vending zones and excluded from the project. This initiative comes more than a decade after the enactment of Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. Corporation secretary Jahamgeer S told TOI that the town vending committee recently finalised the draft. "Once the technical committee approves the draft, the proposal will be presented at the council meeting. During council discussions, councillors can also give their feedback. After incorporating all suggestions, a notification will be issued, giving 30 days for further input before moving to the implementation phase," he said. The technical committee includes stakeholders such as police, PWD, KRFB (Kerala Road Fund Board) and TRDCL (Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Co Ltd), and their recommendations will mainly concern the areas to be covered under the vending project, Jahamgeer added. Following the pandemic, there was a surge in the number of vendors, prompting efforts to formalise and support this growing sector. Surveys conducted by the corporation identified around 2,500 street vendors operating in the city. Besides designating vending zones, corporation has supported vendors by facilitating loans under Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Officials said that an increase in unregulated vending contributed to traffic congestion and waste management issues. The new plan is aimed at addressing these challenges by offering structured spaces for vendors without disrupting urban mobility or sanitation. Evicting vendors is not a practical or lawful solution, said a town vending committee official. "We cannot remove vendors overnight, especially from popular areas like Cotton Hill Road at Vazhuthacaud and Kesavadasapuram-Paruthipara stretch, where food streets have organically come up," he said. "People are enjoying these spaces. We are aiming for an organised system that benefits both vendors and corporation," he added. The new proposal is seen as an expanded version of the model vending zones operating along RKV Road near Museum police station. Corporation intends to replicate and scale up this model in the city, said the official. However, authorities acknowledge limitations in enforcing strict measures against vendors due to protections under the 2014 Act. In the past, initiatives to regulate vending zones faced hurdles, with some projects slowing down due to restrictions by city police. Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd was also involved in setting up vending zones along RKV Road and the ongoing work at Shanghumugham.
