Patna, June 24: The urban development department is framing a bill, the Bihar Street Vendors’ (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Trade) Bill, 2011, to rehabilitate street vendors in an organised manner.

The bill is aimed at providing protection of livelihood to urban street vendors, regulating vending trades and services provided to vendors, and for the convenience of the public.

“We are in the final stages of framing the Bihar Street Vendors’ (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Trade) Bill, 2011. This bill would curb unauthorised vending activities and would also look after the livelihood issues of vendors. Basically, it is an effort to regulate the vending trade and at the same time, to ensure easy accessibility for citizens,” Shashi Shekhar Sharma, the principal secretary of the state urban development department, said.

An appellate authority would also be formed to deal with the issue of the vending trade. According to estimates, there are around 15,000 vendors in 28 towns and cities across Bihar, which makes 12 per cent of the total urban population of these cities dependent on the vending trade. The proposed bill categorises the vending markets into formal and informal, wherein both are further segmented into general retail, fruits and vegetables, service and repairs. The proposed bill calls for segregated hierarchy for vending activities in the cities — vending zones, vending stations and vending markets.

Regarding the structure of vending markets, standard vending platforms could be constructed, which would be 1’t6” higher than footpaths but would be provided with ramps.

The proposed bill also asks the city authorities to provide sufficient spaces, designated as vendor markets in the city masterplan, with the number of vendors (static and mobile), who can cater to the demand for their wares/services in that location.

The proposed bill restricts vending trade at certain places, including footpaths, flyovers and bridges, as it would obstruct the movement of pedestrians and carriageway (see chart).