With Madhya Pradesh crafting a success out of the informal markets for vendors, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has now sought government approval to replicate it in its upcoming housing schemes.

The first informal market is planned at the authority’s proposed housing scheme — Prabandh Nagar, Jankipuram — for which land acquisition is already underway.

After starting this process on a small scale for vegetable vendors in the Chowk, Kanpur Road and Gomti Nagar housing schemes, the LDA has decided to take it big — all this with the aim to curb “encroachment” on public domain.

This step will ensure that the residents of any housing scheme enjoy all services under one umbrella — from cobblers to milkmen. But all of it in a much more organised manner, with the vendors sharing a designated space.

“Today people demand everything under the same roof — right from barber services to edible items,” said Mukesh Kumar Meshram, LDA vice-chairman.

“But due to lack of a fixed place, the vendors who provide various services encroach on the roads and open spaces that cause inconvenience to commuters. It is better if we provide them with some permanent space from where they could ply their trade,” Meshram said.

Asked about the irregular allotments and encroachments over markets developed earlier, Meshram, said: “In the upcoming informal markets, we will ensure that stalls and platforms were allotted to genuine and needy applicants only. There are strict directions for employees to work according the specified norms.”

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