Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to launch a dedicated ‘Gupchup Bazaar’ in the city soon, in a move aimed at organising street food vending and creating a hygienic space for both vendors and visitors.
According to reports, the civic body has identified a roadside stretch in front of the Regional Institute of Education (RIE), Bhubaneswar, for the proposed market. The upcoming bazaar will be developed along the lines of a vending zone and is expected to accommodate around 30 to 40 gupchup vendors in the initial phase.
The selected site has already undergone beautification work, including paving with paver blocks and the installation of decorative lighting. The initiative is expected to streamline roadside vending while also attracting food lovers to a dedicated destination for the popular street snack.
To ensure uniformity and better management, vendors will be provided with specially designed customised trolleys. Sources added that the BMC has already completed the procurement of these trolleys. Vendors currently operating in Sahid Nagar, Nicco Park, and nearby areas are likely to be shifted to the new vending zone once it becomes operational.
The civic body has reportedly designed more than 80 customised trolleys as part of the project. However, officials are yet to take a final decision on the charges or user fees that vendors may have to pay for availing themselves of the facilities at the bazaar.
The proposed market is expected not only to provide better infrastructure for vendors but also to emerge as a major attraction for residents seeking a variety of gupchup flavours and street food options in an organised environment.
