Durga Puja Relief for New Market Hawkers in Kolkata

Durga Puja Relief: As Kolkata prepares for Durga Puja, the city’s biggest cultural and economic celebration, the fate of hawkers in the New Market area has once again entered public debate. In a recent meeting of the Town Vending Committee (TVC), officials decided to hold back on eviction drives against hawkers until after the festive season. This decision effectively gives thousands of street vendors a temporary reprieve, enabling them to conduct business during what is traditionally the most profitable time of the year.

While hawkers welcome this pause, city authorities must also balance the need for urban order, pedestrian safety, and traffic management. The issue highlights the deep tensions between livelihood protection and civic regulation in one of Kolkata’s busiest shopping zones.

Durga Puja Relief: Background of the Conflict

Enforcement Drives

Earlier this year, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and the police jointly conducted a clearance operation, removing unauthorized stalls that had spilled over into the carriageways and footpaths near New Market. These spaces, originally meant for pedestrians and vehicles, had been encroached upon, creating severe congestion.

Reoccupation of Space

Despite the crackdown, hawkers gradually returned to these areas. Lack of consistent monitoring and the high demand for festival shopping opportunities encouraged many to reclaim their spots.

Current Decision

At the TVC’s latest meeting, municipal officials acknowledged the complaints of both hawkers and citizens. After deliberation, they resolved not to conduct another removal drive until after Vijayadashami. The rationale was that Durga Puja is a time of heightened economic activity, and vendors should not lose their only chance of significant annual earnings.

Economic Importance of Hawkers During Durga Puja

Durga Puja is not only a religious festival but also a commercial engine. According to estimates by urban economists, the festival injects thousands of crores of rupees into Kolkata’s economy every year.

• Hawkers’ Contribution: Street vendors provide affordable goods ranging from clothes, accessories, and food items to festive decorations. For many low- and middle-income families, these vendors are the most accessible source of shopping.
• Job Creation: Hawking sustains thousands of families in the city, offering livelihoods to workers who cannot access formal employment.
• Cultural Role: New Market, with its historic character, has long been associated with Puja shopping. The presence of hawkers adds vibrancy and accessibility to the festival experience.

Challenges Created by Hawking in Public Spaces

Despite their economic and cultural contribution, unregulated hawkers bring multiple urban challenges:

1. Traffic Congestion: Stalls spilling into carriageways block vehicles, making navigation difficult for private cars, taxis, and emergency services.
2. Pedestrian Safety: Encroachments leave little space on pavements, forcing people to walk on the road and risk accidents.
3. Emergency Access: Fire services and ambulances face difficulties during peak crowd hours.
4. Waste Management: Increased vending generates significant litter, straining municipal waste systems.

Stakeholder Perspectives

Hawkers’ Associations

Organizations representing hawkers argue that they have been unfairly targeted. They point out that Durga Puja provides nearly 40–50% of their annual earnings. Without this period of business, survival becomes impossible.

Municipal Authorities

The KMC maintains that it must enforce urban discipline. However, given the cultural sensitivity of the Puja season, they prefer to defer action. Officials state that post-festival enforcement drives will resume in October.

Citizens & Shoppers

While some shoppers enjoy the vibrant street stalls, others complain of being unable to walk freely or park vehicles. For daily commuters, the congestion around New Market during Puja can become unbearable.

Legal & Policy Framework

The issue is also linked to broader legal and regulatory frameworks:

• Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014:
  This central law protects vendors’ rights while empowering municipalities to designate vending zones. Full Act Text – Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• Town Vending Committees (TVCs):
  TVCs are statutory bodies under this Act. In Kolkata, the New Market TVC is tasked with deciding where vending can be allowed and ensuring balance between livelihood and public use of space.
• Kolkata Municipal Corporation Bylaws:
  Local rules give KMC power to remove encroachments and regulate use of sidewalks and roads. KMC Official Website.

Possible Solutions for Long-Term Balance

Experts suggest several pathways to balance hawkers’ rights with public interest:

1. Temporary Festival Licenses
   Grant seasonal permits to hawkers during Puja with clear location limits.
2. Designated Hawking Zones
   Create structured vending areas near New Market without blocking carriageways.
3. Rotational Allotments
   Introduce fair systems where hawkers rotate stalls to prevent overcrowding.
4. Permanent Kiosks or Modular Stalls
   Replace informal encroachments with formalized vending units.
5. Stronger Waste & Traffic Management
   Deploy extra waste collectors and traffic police during festivals.

Comparison with Other Cities

• Delhi: The Chandni Chowk redevelopment created structured vending zones, balancing commerce and pedestrian space.
• Mumbai: Temporary hawking licenses during Ganesh Chaturthi reduce friction between hawkers and authorities.
• International Models: In Bangkok and Singapore, hawkers are often shifted into organized night markets, reducing pressure on public carriageways.

Looking Ahead: After Vijayadashami

Once the festival ends, enforcement drives are expected to return. Hawkers may again face eviction unless a more sustainable policy emerges. The cycle of clearance and reoccupation has continued for years, showing the need for systematic reform rather than temporary solutions.

Conclusion

The decision to provide hawkers with relief during Durga Puja illustrates Kolkata’s delicate balance between tradition and modernity. On one hand, the festive economy cannot flourish without street vendors; on the other, the city’s roads and public spaces cannot remain indefinitely encroached.

Durga Puja 2025 will therefore serve as both a blessing and a test: a blessing for hawkers who get to sustain their families, and a test for authorities who must ensure that, once the festivities conclude, order is restored without undermining livelihoods.

With better planning, Kolkata could emerge as a model city that respects both its citizens’ right to space and its hawkers’ right to livelihood.

🔗 Useful Government Links for Reference:

• Street Vendors Act, 2014 – Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
• Kolkata Municipal Corporation – Official Portal

• Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs – Urban Policy Documents

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