Assuring to rehabilitate the street vendors of the city in the best possible way, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation Shafqat Khan on Friday said he is planning to open the shopping malls for the relief of the vendors in the city.

“These vendors too are humans. They are the bread earners of their families. In future, I am planning to open up shopping malls for them, so that they can place their goods there for the selling,” Shafqat told ‘Kashmir Vision’ over phone.

Shafqat said there will be much change on ground in terms of congestion that has otherwise been caused by the street vendors.

“Leave what government did earlier. But in future there will be the change,” he said.

“Earlier, police used to go tough on them by ransacking and damaging their goods, but now it will not happen,” Shafqat added.

“Even our Chief Minister wants a change on the ground. She wants them to get rehabilitated properly,” Shafqat said adding it will definitely overcome the traffic hindrances in the city.

Shafqat said he has also located the settling spots for the Batamaloo vendors.

“I have located two places there which will be used by the street vendors of the Batamaloo in future,” he said.

Barely seven months after their forcible eviction from the SRTC yard here, the authorities on Thursday decided to relocate the street vendors of Lal Chowk back to the spot.

However, the vendors have sought assurance from authorities to ensure that they would not be forcefully evicted again in future.

When asked about resettling of Lal Chowk vendors at SRTC yard, Shafqat said: “Now, they will be settled there permanently”

Pertinently, there are around 2,500 vendors across the city registered with the SMC who are to be rehabilitated.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan on Wednesday had directed shifting of vendors at Lal Chowk, Batamaloo, Hari Singh High Street, Jehangir Chowk and Naaz Crossing to suitable locations. The instructions have been given in pursuance to the directions of the High Court.

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