Chief Minister Hemant Soren has directed that vendor markets be constructed in every ward according to requirements.
Ranchi. Chief Minister Hemant Soren reviewed various schemes of the Urban Development and Housing Department and the Road Construction Department on Wednesday. During the review, he directed officials to ensure the effective, high-quality, and timely implementation of development schemes. Placing special emphasis on providing organized spaces for street vendors in urban areas, he instructed officials to work towards developing vendor markets in every ward based on local needs. The Chief Minister also directed officials to identify illegal encroachments on government land and take appropriate action.
During the review meeting, the Chief Minister inquired about the progress of various schemes under the Urban Development and Housing Department. He stated that the benefits of urban development schemes must reach the general public in a timely manner and that there should be no compromise on quality. Development works should be completed within the stipulated timeframes so that the public does not face prolonged inconvenience due to construction activities.
The Chief Minister urged officials to focus on creating better arrangements for people who earn their livelihood by setting up stalls on urban footpaths. He directed them to assess the requirements of each city ward and develop vendor markets accordingly, thereby providing street vendors with designated and organized spaces for their business operations.
The development of vendor markets could also help improve traffic flow in cities. Currently, shops set up on footpaths and along roadsides on major thoroughfares and in market areas reduce the space available for vehicular movement, leading to traffic congestion during peak hours. Keeping this issue in mind, the Chief Minister called for a planned approach to the construction of vendor markets.
He clarified that the livelihoods of street vendors must be safeguarded. It is essential to provide them with suitable locations so that the livelihoods of small shopkeepers are not adversely affected in the name of urban organization. The availability of necessary amenities in vendor markets will assist small traders in conducting their businesses in a stable and organized manner.
The issue of encroachments on government land in urban areas was also raised during the meeting. The Chief Minister directed officials to identify such land and take action in accordance with the rules. He stated that government land should be utilized for public purposes and development projects. Consequently, there is a need to organize records related to government land and identify areas under encroachment.
The Chief Minister also inquired about the current status of various ongoing projects in the cities from officials of the Urban Development Department. He directed officials to regularly monitor development plans. If a project faces delays, the causes must be identified, and the issues resolved immediately.
Additionally, schemes under the Road Construction Department were reviewed. The Chief Minister emphasized the timely completion of road construction and related projects. He noted that superior road connectivity plays a crucial role in the economic and social development of any region; therefore, the quality of construction in road projects must be ensured.
Instructions were also issued to consider traffic management during road construction in urban areas. Traffic congestion often arises due to unnecessary encroachments and haphazard commercial activities on roads. Establishing vendor markets will allow street vendors to be allocated designated spaces, thereby freeing up sufficient room for traffic on main roads.
The Chief Minister urged officials not to limit schemes to mere paperwork but to assess their impact on the ground. The success of any scheme depends on the extent to which it benefits the common citizen. Therefore, departmental officials should regularly inspect projects and rectify shortcomings in a timely manner.
While directing that priority be given to quality and timeliness in development plans, he remarked that failure to complete work on schedule not only escalates project costs but also causes inconvenience to the public. Schemes should be completed expeditiously through better coordination among the concerned departments and agencies.
The vendor market initiative is considered a significant step towards improving urban infrastructure. Establishing markets in each ward based on local needs will provide small vendors with secure business locations while alleviating pressure on roads and footpaths. This will benefit pedestrians and contribute to improved traffic management. Following the directives issued during the meeting, the Urban Development and Housing Department will now be responsible for assessing the need for vendor markets across various wards and identifying suitable locations for them. Simultaneously, the process of identifying encroachments on government land and taking action in accordance with the rules will be set in motion.
During the review, Chief Minister Hemant Soren conveyed a clear message that quality, timeliness, and the convenience of the general public must be the top priorities in development schemes. Directives regarding organized vendor markets for street vendors, the mitigation of traffic congestion, and the clearing of encroachments from government land are considered significant steps in this direction.