Srinagar : Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has issued operational guidelines for establishing designated street food cart zones across the city, aimed at regulating street vending while balancing livelihoods, food safety, sanitation and public convenience.
The first phase will cover locations at Opposite JKTDC Water Sports, Dalgate Bund, Badamwari, JVC Bemina, Magarmal Bagh, Rajbagh and an identified location along the right bank of River Jhelum.
The capacity of each zone will be determined based on available space, pedestrian movement, accessibility, traffic conditions and fire-safety requirements.
SMC Commissioner Fazlul Haseeb said the initiative was aimed at organising the street food sector rather than displacing vendors.
“The designated zones will provide greater predictability for vendors while enabling the Corporation to maintain cleaner, safer and more accessible public spaces,” he said.
Under the guidelines, food carts will have to meet prescribed standards for design, hygiene, potable water, waste segregation, wastewater management and fire safety. Vendors will also be required to display valid municipal and FSSAI permissions along with menu and price lists.
Motorised food vending vehicles will require clearance from the Motor Vehicles Department before municipal permission is granted.
The guidelines have been framed in accordance with the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, J&K Street Vendors Rules, 2020 and the Model Scheme notified in 2021.
