Chandigarh, June 8 — In a significant move to curb illegal street vending and bring order to the city’s vending system, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) has launched a high-tech monitoring initiative that includes smart ID cards, geofencing, and real-time surveillance.
“To curb illegal vending in the city, we are issuing tamper-proof certificates embedded with holograms to all registered vendors,” said Joint Commissioner Sumit Sihag. “If someone is vending illegally, they can now be identified and removed immediately.”
The crackdown comes after repeated complaints from city councillors and residents about unlicensed vendors obstructing walkways, occupying parking spots, and encroaching upon no-vending zones like Sector 17 and Sectors 1 to 6. Despite earlier enforcement drives, unauthorized vendors have continued to mushroom in major markets and residential sectors.
The civic body is now banking on a multi-pronged technological approach to reverse the trend. Under the new system:
- Smart ID cards embedded with chips will carry vendor details, including their assigned location and product category.
- Geofencing will digitally tether each vendor to a specific vending zone, triggering alerts if they stray outside.
- A mobile app developed by SPIC (Society for Promotion of IT in Chandigarh) will allow enforcement officers to track vendors in real time.
- Real-time CCTV surveillance will cover major vending hotspots — starting with Sector 15, Sector 19, and Sector 22 — with a central control room coordinating ground action.
- Hologram-embedded certificates will act as an instant verification tool, resistant to tampering or duplication.
This renewed focus follows a 2016 survey that counted 10,903 registered street vendors. However, due to non-payment of licence fees, the number has dropped to 4,032, with the MC cancelling 6,871 licences earlier this year. The total outstanding dues from defaulters amount to ₹75 crore — a staggering sum, especially as 2,352 vendors have never paid a single instalment.
On Saturday, Sihag led a surprise inspection in Sector 15’s Patel Market and the adjoining vending zone, issuing 52 challans on the spot. The Municipal Commissioner, Amit Kumar, has directed that such inspections continue regularly.
“We’re using smart solutions to outsmart squatters,” Sihag said. “The aim is to restore balance — protecting the rights of licensed vendors while reclaiming public spaces for citizens.”
As the pilot phase rolls out in the city’s busiest markets, the MC hopes this digital overhaul will finally provide long-awaited relief to pedestrians, shoppers, and legitimate vendors alike.
