Vexing Issue Of Vendors

These days many of the streets of Kathmandu have been cleared of street vendors from the footpaths, facilitating the unhindered movements of pedestrians. The campaign to remove the street vendors has gained momentum after the installation of new leadership at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). Newly elected KMC Mayor Balendra Shah has rightly said that footpaths are solely for passers-by and must not be encroached upon for business purpose. He has listed the removal of street vendors from the roadsides as one of his achievements of his 100-day in office. No doubt, the streets should be clean, clear and unhindered. Any activity that obstructs the smooth movements of passers-by and infringes upon the roadside must be discouraged to enhance the image of capital city. The KMC has earned kudos from the city dwellers for clearing the footpaths but thousands of street vendors who were ousted from the pavements are complaining that the Metropolitan officials robbed them of their right to make a living.