Shimla officials remove 18 illegal street vendors

In a crackdown on illegal street vendors and hawkers, officials from Shimla Municipal Corporation removed 18 unauthorised vendors from various markets across the town today. The operation targeted nine vendors from Lower Bazaar, six from Ram Bazaar and three from near Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), where street vending has been prohibited.

The crackdown was led by Tehbazari Inspector Jyoti Prakash, who conducted rounds with his team across the town’s markets. During the inspection, several street vendors were found selling goods without valid licences or identification. As a result, the vendors were removed from the markets and their goods confiscated.

Prakash said most of the unauthorised vendors come from other states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh and attempt to sell goods in Shimla without permission. He highlighted the problems caused by these vendors, such as overcrowding in markets, which delays response times in emergencies like fires or medical situations.

The Municipal Corporation conducts regular inspections every Sunday to identify and remove unauthorised vendors.

In addition, a mock drill was conducted in Lower Bazaar to test emergency response times. A fire tender was deployed from CTO to Sher-E-Punjab restaurant, passing through Lower Bazaar. The drill was completed in just eight minutes, showcasing the importance of keeping markets accessible in case of emergencies.