Chennai Corporation to collect fees from street vendors

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Council, on Friday, passed a resolution to regulate street vending across the city, and imposed new vending fees for urban street vendors.

The new vending fees range from ₹250 to ₹3,000 per annum, depending on the type and size of the vendor’s space. Stationary vendors (full-time) should pay 1% of the guideline value, i.e. property value, subject to a minimum of ₹750 per annum for spaces up to 10 square feet (sq.ft), and up to ₹3,000 per annum for spaces over 25 sq.ft. Part-time stationary vendors with spaces up to 10 sq.ft. must pay ₹375 per annum.

Further, mobile vendors using motor vehicles must pay ₹750 to ₹3,000 per annum, depending on the size of their space, and those without motor vehicles must pay between ₹375 and ₹1,500 per annum. Vendors using headloads should pay ₹250 annually.

Further, mobile vendors using motor vehicles will pay ₹750 to ₹3,000 per annum, depending on the size of their space. Mobile vendors without motor vehicles will pay between ₹375 and ₹1,500 per annum, and vendors using headloads will pay ₹250 annually.

Previously, a uniform rent of ₹100 per month was collected from street vendors in specific areas, such as Armenian Street, Pantheon Lane, and Mylapore.

The resolution follows the establishment of 15 Town Vending Committees — one for each zone — under the chairmanship of the concerned Regional Deputy Commissioner in June, to oversee the issuance of the Certificate of Vending (CoV) to street vendors and ensuring compliance with the Tamil Nadu Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2015.

Also, the council approved that the CoV will remain valid for five years, with renewals costing ₹100.

Councillors of Communist parties demanded that the fees be reduced. However, Mayor R. Priya replied that the amount is as per State-suggested values.