Vegetable vendors encroach a stretch of Rajabazaar-Sheikhpura Mor in Patna. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Nov. 25: The state government is mulling to build a multi-utility vending complex on a Dumra road plot where a slum stands at present.

The proposed plan has come as a relief to vegetable vendors on the Rajabazaar-Sheikhpura Mor stretch of Bailey Road. If the plan materialises, frequent snarls in Rajabazaar would ease out too.

“The department has plans to develop a vending complex beside JD Women’s College near Sheikhpura Mor. Around 500 kiosks would be set up in the 1-acre complex to help accommodate hundreds of vendors. We have already chalked a blueprint of the proposed complex and the detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared. Construction would start after the state cabinet gives its approval and it would be ready in 18 to 24 months,” said Shashi Shekhar Sharma, principal secretary, urban development department.

Mahindra Sahni, a vegetable vendor at Rajabazaar, said: “I don’t have a place to park my cart on Rajabazaar Road. I have to quarrel with other vendors for space. The proposed complex would be of great help to me.”

Suresh Mishra, a Ashiana Nagar resident, said: “I am annoyed with the frequent snarls on Rajabazaar Road because of encroachment by vendors and squatters. It takes around 45 minutes to one hour to travel to cover 1.5km from Ashiana Mor to Sheikhpura Mor.”

Ravindra Rai, a resident of Om Enclave on Dumra road near Sheikhpura Mor, is appalled by the unhygienic conditions in front of his apartment because of the slum.

Sharma said: “As the complex would be developed on a public-private partnership mode, the first and second floors would be developed as a shopping centre. This would enable the private operator to generate revenue. There would also be an underground parking facility to accommodate around 200 vehicles. Moreover, all matters related to the complex would be governed by Bihar Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and regulation of Trade) Bill, 2011.” The bill would curb unauthorised vending activities and ensure easy accessibility of vending markets for citizens.

Sources said the project is likely to be executed in the next financial year (2012-13).

The bill and the vending complex would also provide relief to the authorities, who have hardly been able to control the rampant encroachment on the streets of the capital.

Taking cognisance of such conditions in a public interest litigation filed by B.K. Sharma and other petitions seeking removal of illegal encroachments, a division bench of Patna High Court comprising Justice P.C. Verma and Justice A.K. Trivedi in May this year, had condemned the menace and ordered the authorities to take measures to curb the menace.

Consequently, the district administration, Patna Municipal Corporation and the police had jointly conducted anti-encroachment drives at various places in the city on May 7 and 10. But the vendors were back to business within a few hours of the drives.

“Police have kept constant vigil on the encroachment issue and we are imposing fine on offenders,” said Vineet Vinayak, central range (Patna) DIG.