Ranchi: The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has begun identifying land for dedicated vendors’ markets in all 53 wards of the city. The exercise follows chief minister Hemant Soren’s directive last week to develop local vending hubs in every ward under Jharkhand’s urban local bodies.Municipal commissioner Sushant Gaurav said on Monday that officials had started surveying land in each ward. “Proposals will be prepared based on the size and nature of the land available and sent to the urban development department for approval and further action,” he said.Officials said the ward-level markets would provide designated spaces to local vendors while helping remove roadside encroachments and improve traffic movement.The project will be implemented in phases. “Initially, we plan to provide space to all vendors registered with RMC. Later, a survey of other vendors will be conducted so that as many of them as possible can be accommodated,” Gaurav said.Residents welcomed the initiative, saying neighbourhood markets would make daily shopping more convenient.“It would be good to have a market close to my home. I could walk there to buy daily necessities instead of travelling to one of the larger markets located far away,” said Anita Devi, a homemaker.Another resident, Sumati Singh, said a market within the ward would save time and allow people to buy different items at one place.In a related development, RMC is organising ward-level camps to link street vendors with the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme. Camps have been held in 14 wards, while the remaining drives are scheduled for Sept 12, 19 and 26.Mayor Roshni Khalkho said vendors were being informed about credit facilities and assisted in accessing financial schemes. “The objective is to empower street vendors socially and economically,” she said.Officials will also carry out physical verification and socio-economic profiling of vendors. Eligible members of their families will be linked to various govt welfare schemes.
