Principal Secretary Usha Padhee Reviews Street Vendor Rehabilitation Efforts in Puri

Bhubaneswar: In an effort to address the ongoing concerns of displaced street vendors in Puri, Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development (H&UD), visited the city on Saturday to review the progress of rehabilitation initiatives for vendors evicted from the Badadand area.

Padhee toured the vending zone under construction near the Sri Setu area, which is intended to provide a dedicated space for the displaced vendors to continue their livelihoods. During her visit, she directed the concerned officials to expedite the completion of the project, emphasizing the need to prioritize the welfare of the affected vendors.

Officials from the Puri Municipality, including the Additional District Magistrate and other key personnel, briefed the Principal Secretary on the current status of the project. Despite ongoing work, many displaced vendors have voiced frustration over delays in their rehabilitation, a concern Padhee acknowledged as urgent and in need of immediate attention.

Following the site visit, Padhee convened a meeting with key officials, including District Collector Sidhartha Sankar Swain, Superintendent of Police Vinit Agrawal, Additional District Magistrate Kailash Chandra Naik, and Executive Officer of Puri Municipality Abhimanyu Nayak. The meeting centered on accelerating the rehabilitation process and addressing the grievances of the vendors, who have been waiting for proper resettlement since their eviction.

Padhee’s visit underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring that displaced street vendors are not left without support. The development of dedicated vending zones is a crucial part of the broader urban development and vendor welfare policies, which aim to provide safe and sustainable spaces for street vendors to operate.

The visit comes at a critical time, as tensions rise among the displaced vendors, many of whom rely on their stalls for their livelihood. The government, keen to resolve the issue fairly and swiftly, is focused on ensuring that the affected communities are provided with adequate support and are resettled in a timely manner.