The Panchkula Municipal Corporation (MC) has formally appointed a private agency to manage the city's street vendors for the next ten years, a move that has triggered strong opposition from local vendor unions. The decision, taken under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act of 2014, bypassed a discussion in the Town Vending Committee (TVC), leading to threats of legal action.
Contract Details and Key Responsibilities
According to official records, the MC issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to Gurgaon-based JP Enterprises on December 5, 2025. This was followed by a formal work order on December 12, 2025. The contract grants the firm the responsibility for the management, regulation, rehabilitation, and monitoring of all street vendors across Panchkula. The initial term is set for 10 years, with a provision for extension based on mutual agreement.
The agency's wide-ranging mandate includes:
- Identifying and managing designated vending zones.
- Enforcing sanitation and public safety standards.
- Installing CCTV surveillance in vending areas.
- Supplying modern vending carts to vendors at reasonable prices.
- Regulating special markets like flea markets, night bazaars, and weekly haats.
Revised Fees and Welfare Provisions
A significant change for vendors will be the revised monthly service charge. Stationary stall owners will now pay Rs 2,500 per month, while mobile vendors will pay Rs 1,500. This marks a substantial increase from the previous flat fee of Rs 1,000. The contract stipulates that one-third of all collections must be deposited with the Municipal Corporation within 30 days of collection. The agreement does not grant any advertising rights to the agency.
In return, JP Enterprises is obligated to ensure several welfare measures for the vendors, such as:
- Training programs on hygiene and food safety.
- Assistance in securing PM SVANidhi micro-loans.
- Linking vendors to relevant social security schemes.
- Providing a Rs 5 lakh insurance cover for each vendor.
- Arranging uniforms, health check-ups, and educational support for vendors' children.
The firm has also been directed to submit a performance security deposit of Rs 5 lakh within one month of the work order issuance.
Union Opposition and Official Stance
The decision has not been welcomed by the street vendors' representatives. Union leaders have objected to the process, claiming the matter should have been debated in the Town Vending Committee meeting. Ramdev Singh Patel, president of the Rehri Fadi Union, stated clearly, "We will move court if the decision is not reversed."
Defending the move, MC Commissioner RK Singh asserted that the allotment was made in full compliance with established norms. In a related development, the Town Vending Committee has given its approval for conducting a fresh survey of all street vendors in Panchkula, which could impact the final implementation of the new management system.
