Corpn to procure 900 stainless vending carts at Rs 16.47 crore

An official said that the civic body would procure 900 stainless vending carts at a total cost of Rs 16.47 crore. “Each cart will have a dimension of 2.2m X 0.80m X 2.10m. Bids would be opened on March 6,” the official added.

With more than 1,300 registered vendors in the Marina Beach, the High Court had ordered the civic body to reduce the number of shops to 900 and instructed to collect monthly rent of Rs 1,000.

According to the High Court order, the civic body would collect a maintenance charge of Rs 200 per month apart from the monthly rent of Rs 1,000. Chennai Corporation would also collect annual license fees of Rs 3,000 for carts with motor and Rs 1,500 for carts without motors.

As of now, the civic body is collecting Rs 100 per month as maintenance charges. Recently, Chennai Corporation and city police regulated around 1,900 shops on the beach and removed shops erected near the tideline.

Even though the tenders are floated, the civic body is yet to shortlist the 900 vendors who would be lucky enough to have their shop on the tourist destination. “Most possibly, we will select the vendors randomly. Other vendors will be provided space on other streets that have been earmarked as vending zones,” an official said.

However, the vendors should send application forms seeking carts from the civic body. The vending carts would be provided in a phased manner and the successful bidder has to supply 300 carts every two months.

Kabilan, a vendor and member of Street Vending Committee, said that several vendors are running the shops for decades. “If the civic body reduces the number of shops, several vendors will be affected,” he added.