CM assures solution to Azadpur vendor issues
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, during a detailed inspection of Azadpur on Friday, directly interacted with footpath fruit vendors. The Chief Minister promised a solution that balances their livelihood needs with pedestrian access and cleanliness. The interaction took place as part of the Gandhi Jayanti cleanliness drive under the “Seva Mera Yogdan” campaign.
The Chief Minister took part in the cleanliness drive and inspected the area’s central verge, footpaths, roadside walls, drainage system and nearby public spaces. She sought information from officials on garbage accumulation, encroachment of footpaths by fruit vendors, unauthorised wall advertisements and damaged public infrastructure, directing officials to ensure no negligence in maintaining public spaces and to pursue permanent solutions rather than temporary fixes.
During her interaction with footpath fruit sellers, the Chief Minister said a proper solution would be worked out with the needs of people who depend on their businesses for their livelihood in mind. In contrast, footpaths should remain accessible to pedestrians, and cleanliness should be maintained.
She asked officials and local representatives to coordinate better so commuters face no inconvenience, while also making suitable arrangements for the vendors themselves.
She appealed separately to fruit vendors and workers at Azadpur Mandi to help maintain cleanliness, saying that while respecting the hard work of those selling fruit from carts to earn a living, it was equally important that no waste be left behind after business hours. She noted that waste left on footpaths could enter drains and affect the drainage system, calling for a proper cleanliness arrangement built on cooperation between officials and mandi workers.
The Chief Minister also inspected the central verge in Azadpur and directed officials to ensure its regular cleaning, along with improving the underpass and long walls in the area through wall paintings and beautification for a cleaner, more attractive appearance. She announced that a statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is planned for installation in December at a chowk being developed in the area, to be named “Atal Chowk.” She directed officials to keep the chowk and its connecting road clean and attractive, with special attention to greenery, cleanliness and better public facilities.
The Chief Minister said Mahatma Gandhi considered cleanliness the foundation of a healthy and civilised society, and that the Swachh Bharat Mission, launched 12 years ago under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, has become a nationwide people’s movement. She said cleanliness should not remain a one-day campaign but become part of everyday lifestyle and values, with every citizen responsible for keeping not just their homes but streets, neighbourhoods, markets and surrounding public spaces clean.
She said the cleanliness pledge would only be meaningful when put into practice, pointing to small efforts such as disposing of waste at designated places, not littering public spaces, and encouraging others to maintain cleanliness as the foundation for larger change. MLA Rajkumar Bhatia, Municipal Corporation officials, other public representatives, and prominent citizens were present during the drive.
For the vendors and residents of Azadpur, Friday’s inspection signalled a shift from routine enforcement to a negotiated approach, with officials directed to design arrangements that keep footpaths walkable and clean without simply displacing those who depend on street vending for their daily earnings.
