Scorched streets, stolen spaces: Bengaluru's vendors sweat it out

Bengaluru: As Bengaluru grapples with rising temperatures, those who rely solely on roadside businesses are among the worst affected. On one hand, vendors highlight various issues plaguing their livelihoods; on the other, pedestrians complain about encroached footpaths.

While vendors assert that street vending is their only means of income, pedestrians say most footpaths are blocked, especially on busy roads with heavy traffic.

“We are forced to walk on the roads, which is unsafe in such traffic conditions. There needs to be some regulation of street vending. There have been many instances where pedestrians were hit by moving vehicles, and the lack of usable footpaths is a major cause,” said Annapoorna P, a resident of Basavanagudi.

However, police and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials are unable to evict vendors, as the Supreme Court has ruled that vendors cannot be removed until the civic body demarcates vending zones.

The BBMP was tasked with identifying vending zones to regulate street vending, but progress has been slow—the survey of street vendors was completed only recently, after a two-year delay.

Even though the survey is now complete, concerns remain. Vendors allege that the numbers have been grossly underestimated.

While vendors claim there are at least one lakh street vendors in the city, BBMP’s survey puts the number at around 27,600.

BBMP Special Commissioner (Welfare), Suralkar Vikas Kishore, explained that only one person per family is eligible for a vendor ID, which led to the lower numbers. He added that the BBMP will soon conduct elections for the Town Vending Committee (TVC) and begin marking vending zones.

“A few others lacked the necessary documentation and were excluded from the list. However, vendors without a certificate can continue operating as mobile vendors,” he said.

Beating the heat

The sweltering heat has impacted business for many street vendors and roadside eateries, significantly reducing operating hours.

While some vendors are unable to work through the day due to health concerns, many said customers also avoid stepping out in the heat.

M Babu, who has been selling cut fruits on BTS Road in Wilson Garden for 20 years, said business is now limited to the evenings. "Due to the heat, most people come only in the evening. This summer feels hotter than previous years,” he said.

Keeping fruits, food, and other items fresh has become another major challenge. "The food spoils quickly in this heat. I have to sell it fast or my efforts go to waste,” said Jaisly, a meals and buttermilk vendor from Govinda Chetty Colony.

Maintaining hygiene is also difficult, vendors said. “Customers complain when they see us sweating while serving. They say it's unhygienic,” said Vijay Kumar, who runs the Naati Mane Uta Devru Bandi food cart on Hosur Road.

Pushcart vendors delivering fruits, vegetables, and essentials door-to-door are also struggling. Many have cut down their working hours to avoid the afternoon heat.

Adding to their struggles is the threat of robbery. Muniyamma, a coconut vendor from Kalyan Nagar, pushes her cart from over a kilometre away, selling coconut water at ₹45 each. “Recently, around 300 coconuts were stolen. Whether it rains or the sun scorches, I have no choice but to continue,” she said. She typically sells around 150 coconuts a day.

Harassment, no basic amenities 

Even coconuts aren’t safe: Vendor Muniyamma rues theft amid the heat.

Despite the Supreme Court’s clear directives, vendors allege that illegal evictions and police harassment continue.

“Paying the police is an unspoken part of our job. If we don’t, they create problems and evict us. We can’t afford to lose a day’s business,” said a vendor from Malleswaram, requesting anonymity.

They also pointed to the lack of basic facilities such as public toilets and drinking water, which makes it even harder to work through the day.