Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has launched a pioneering initiative to upgrade the aesthetics of hawking hubs starting with Gariahat, employing fire-proof polycarbonate view-cutters mounted on robust steel frames.
These structures are designed to conceal the rear sections of hawker stalls that face public roads, thereby improving the visual appeal of these bustling commercial areas. Installed at the pavement edges where they meet the kerb, these view-cutters also serve as advertising platforms for state government social schemes, with plans to explore commercial advertisements in the future. The KMC’s advertisement department initiated an e-tender for the installation, targeting the stretch between Rashbehari and Bijon Setu along Rashbehari Avenue and Gariahat Road. Future phases will extend this enhancement from Rashbehari crossing to Triangular Park.
In the initial phase, 931 stalls at Gariahat will benefit from these view-cutters, with installation already underway. The KMC has procured 100 such panels for immediate deployment and has commissioned additional manufacturing orders to cover Gariahat, Ballygunge, and the entirety of Rashbehari Avenue’s hawking zones. Plans are in place to replicate this initiative across other major hawking areas in subsequent phases. Under the arrangement, private agencies responsible for installation will bear costs upfront and maintain the view-cutters for three years. In return, they will generate revenue through advertisement displays on these panels. Civic inspectors will oversee the installation quality and report to senior KMC officials.
The move has received positive feedback from stakeholders, including the General Secretary of Gariahat-Ballygunge Hawkers’ Union, who praised the initiative for enhancing the area’s aesthetic appeal and supporting the transition away from less durable materials like plastics and cloth. Hawkers themselves have expressed a desire for narrower gaps between the view-cutters and the kerb to better protect their merchandise during inclement weather.
