GVMC council meeting on November 21; proposal for smart vending zones to be introduced

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) will be organising its next council meeting on November 21. The corporation has prepared a 90-point agenda for the session, in which most of the proposals are related to development works across various wards.

As per the authorities, the GVMC will introduce a proposal to set up three dedicated smart vending zones at Old Jail Road, Yendada and Beach Road. The initiative follows the recent Operation Life to Urban Green Spaces (LUNGS), during which several vendors accused of encroaching on footpaths and roadways were cleared by the corporation.

In this regard, GVMC Commissioner, Ketan Garg personally inspected the proposed sites along with GVMC Chief Engineer P.V.V. Satyanarayana Raju and Zonal Commissioners K. Kanaka Mahalakshmi and M. Mallayya Naidu at Yendada and several other areas.

Mr. Garg said: “The GVMC has decided to establish 21 Smart Vending Zones across the city. As part of the first phase, three vending zones are being set up in Zones 2, 4, and 6 under the Private Public Partnership (PPP) model with beneficiary contribution. These vending zones are being developed to improve the living standards of street vendors, strengthen them economically, and provide modern, citizen-friendly vending facilities in the city.”

The civic chief said that the smart vending zones would include facilities such as portable containers equipped with fans, lights, and other basic amenities. There will be complete electrification to support shop appliances and equipment, pleasant and aesthetic lighting to enhance the surroundings, solar-powered vending zones to reduce carbon footprint, CCTV surveillance for security.

He further added that a dedicated Central Management System (CMS) for each vending zone to manage sanitation, daily cleaning, security, Wi-Fi, and play zones would be set up including plumbing and drinking water supply for each shop, washing basins for users, designated seating zones for people to relax. He added that the proposals are being prepared to ensure all these facilities are incorporated, making the vending zones convenient for both street vendors and the public.

Architect Vamsi Krishna explained the proposed model designs related to these vending zones to the GVMC chief. After reviewing them, the Commissioner instructed Chief Engineer P.V.V. Satyanarayana Raju to prepare a detailed report incorporating all required infrastructure and initiate action accordingly.

(Stormy Affair)

The upcoming meeting is expected to be a stormy affair, as opposition parties are likely to demand discussions on Operation LUNGS, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) privatisation issue, issues pertaining to contractors, TDR bonds, Urban Community Development (UCD), Town Planning and Public Health.

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) corporators led by district president KK Raju, took part in a meeting at the party office in Maddilapalem to discuss on their strategy and key points to be raised at the council meeting.

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