Vijayawada: The development of the Project Smart Street (Smart Vending Zones) to support urban street vendors under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana Urban Livelihood Mission Scheme (DAY-NULM) in Vijayawada has gained momentum, with the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) identifying land to establish the smart vending zones on a 200-metre stretch at Vidyadharapuram RTC workshop road in Vijayawada.“A total of 10 containers with 40 shops will be established, with each container housing four shops. Applications have been invited from interested street vendors to set up their shops at the Smart Street Vending Zone, with July 11 as the last date,” VMC Urban Community Development (UCD) project officer Venkata Narayana told TOI.The UCD officer said that the shops will be allocated to eligible street vendors through a lottery system if the municipal corporation receives a high number of applications. Otherwise, they will be allocated directly to applicants if the number of applications is low.“The total cost of Project Smart Street is around Rs 5 crore, which includes the beneficiaries’ contribution for setting up their shops at the containers,” the official mentioned. He added that the municipal corporation aims to complete the project and inaugurate the Smart Street Vending Zones by Sep, although the deadline for completion is the end of 2025.The UCD official explained that the project aims to create a sustainable and inclusive urban street environment in Vijayawada that supports street vendors, enhances public spaces, and integrates eco-friendly infrastructure for social and economic upliftment.The Smart Street pilot project in Vijayawada revitalises urban voids along the road, offering affordable spaces for street vendors to boost the local economy. It integrates sustainability through solar panels and generates revenue via leased ad spaces, rooftop dining, free Wi-Fi, paved pathways, and more.
