Guntur council plans vendor relocation

Local body polls: Guntur voters seek better traffic management The newly released results of Guntur’s municipal body elections have thrown a spotlight on a single, persistent grievance among its residents – traffic congestion. While the city has witnessed a steady rise in vehicle registrations, the narrow lanes of its historic centre have struggled to keep pace. Candidates who promised swift infrastructural upgrades saw a surge in support, but voters also pressed for a more nuanced approach that tackles the everyday realities of street‑level commerce..

The emerging consensus is clear: without coordinated traffic planning, any new road‑widening scheme will merely shift the bottleneck elsewhere. At the heart of the debate lies the informal economy that thrives on Guntur’s bustling thoroughfares. Street vendors, many of whom have operated for generations, occupy sidewalks, medians and even portions of the carriageway, turning them into impromptu marketplaces..

While these stalls contribute to the city’s vibrancy and provide livelihoods for thousands, they also create irregular lane widths and unexpected obstacles for motorists. Survey data collected by the local civic body indicates that over 62 percent of commuters cite vendor‑induced obstructions as a primary cause of delays during peak hours. In response, a coalition of candidates has pledged to establish designated vending zones that would relocate these informal traders to purpose‑built spaces away from the main traffic arteries..

The proposal draws on examples from nearby cities such as Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, where similar schemes have reportedly reduced average journey times by up to 15 percent. Advocates argue that a well‑planned vending complex, equipped with basic amenities and security, would preserve the economic activity of street sellers while freeing up critical road space for vehicles. Critics, however, caution that simply moving vendors does not guarantee smoother traffic flow..

Ramesh Kumar of Guntur University points out that without complementary measures—such as synchronized traffic signals, dedicated turning lanes and stricter enforcement of parking bans—congestion could simply reappear in other parts of the city. “Designated zones are a piece of the puzzle,” he says, “but they must be part of an integrated traffic management framework that also addresses public transport capacity and pedestrian safety.” The municipal corporation’s traffic department has already begun mapping the most problematic stretches, using GPS data from city buses and private taxis. Preliminary findings highlight three key corridors: the Old Town market road, the Ring Road segment near the railway station, and the newly expanded BRT lane on M.G..

In each of these zones, vendor stalls encroach on the carriageway by an average of 1.8 metres, forcing motorists to weave through narrow gaps and increasing the risk of accidents. The department’s chief, S. Lakshmi, says that a pilot relocation of vendors in the Old Town area could be launched within six months if the council approves the necessary budget. Funding for the initiative is expected to come from a combination of state‑level urban development grants and a modest increase in the municipal corporation’s own tax levy..

Officials estimate that constructing a 0.5‑hectare vending complex, complete with permanent stalls, sanitation facilities and a small parking area, would cost roughly ₹12 crore. While this figure has raised eyebrows among some taxpayers, proponents argue that the long‑term savings—both in reduced fuel consumption and lower accident‑related expenses—will outweigh the initial outlay. Local business owners, particularly those operating brick‑and‑mortar shops, have expressed mixed feelings..

On one hand, they welcome any effort that could ease the flow of customers to their premises; on the other, they fear that relocating vendors could diminish footfall for surrounding stores that have historically relied on the bustling street‑level trade. The merchants’ association has therefore called for a phased implementation, allowing time to gauge the impact on sales before committing to a city‑wide rollout. Public opinion appears to be swinging in favour of the designated zones, according to a recent telephone poll conducted by a regional news outlet..

Of the 1,200 respondents, 57 percent said they would support the relocation of vendors if it meant shorter commute times, while 23 percent remained undecided and 20 percent opposed the move, citing concerns over the loss of traditional street culture. The poll also revealed that younger voters (aged 18‑35) were more likely to endorse the plan, reflecting a generational shift towards prioritising efficiency over nostalgia. The municipal council is slated to debate the proposal in its next meeting, scheduled for early November..

If passed, the council will set up a multi‑disciplinary task force comprising traffic engineers, urban planners, vendor representatives and civil society members to oversee the planning and execution of the vending zones. The task force will be required to submit a detailed implementation roadmap within three months, outlining site selection, compensation mechanisms for displaced traders and a communication strategy to keep residents informed. Meanwhile, the state government has signalled its willingness to cooperate, with the Department of Urban Development offering technical assistance and a potential matching grant for infrastructure costs..

Minister for Urban Affairs, Anil Reddy, reiterated his commitment to “modernising our cities while protecting the livelihoods of our citizens,” urging local authorities to adopt data‑driven solutions rather than ad‑hoc measures that have failed in the past. If successful, Guntur’s experiment could become a template for other mid‑size Indian cities grappling with the twin challenges of rapid motorisation and a thriving informal sector. International observers from the World Bank’s South Asia Urban Initiative have expressed interest in studying the outcomes, noting that many developing metropolises face similar dilem.