Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development, visited Puri on Saturday to evaluate the status of the rehabilitation works for street vendors evicted from Bada Danda, in an important visit intended to address the complaints of displaced street vendors.
Padhee had a tour of the vending zone that is being developed in the Sri Setu neighborhood. She gave departmental representatives instructions during her evaluation to take the required actions to guarantee the project’s completion, giving special consideration to the interests of the displaced suppliers.
The Additional District Magistrate, Puri, and other important authorities from the Puri Municipality informed Padhee on the project’s status regarding the vending zone during the visit. Displaced merchants have voiced frustration over delays in their rehabilitation despite the ongoing efforts, a significant issue that Padhee recognized.
After her site tour, Padhee met with the Puri District Collector, Sidhartha Sankar Swain; the Puri Municipality’s Executive Officer, Abhimanyu Nayak; Additional District Magistrate, Kailash Chandra Naik; and other relevant personnel. The conversation centered on resolving the problems of the impacted merchants, who have been waiting for appropriate resettlement, and accelerating the rehabilitation process.
The visit by the Principal Secretary demonstrates the state government’s dedication to making sure that the displaced street vendors receive prompt rehabilitation in a way that upholds their rights and sustains their means of subsistence. One of the main components of the government’s larger urban development and vendor welfare projects is the creation of designated vending zones.
The visit also occurs at a critical juncture, as the displaced shopkeepers’ dissatisfaction is growing. The administration is eager to find a quick and fair solution while making sure that the impacted areas receive the necessary assistance.
