The Lalitpur Sub-metropolitan City (LSMC) has decided to enforce laws that prohibits street vendors from putting up shops along the footpaths of busy Lagankhel and Mangal Bazaar streets. The move comes after pedestrian and concerned locals of the area lodged complaints over hindrance in free movement of people due to the mismanaged footpath shops.

“We have decided to completely ban carts and search alternatives for footpath vendors within a week,” LSMC Chief and Executive Officer Bharat Mani Pandey.

The LSMC formed a committee on Sunday under municipal police DSP KL Maharjan to implement the decision. “We are working on to find a permanent solution to this issue without affecting businesses of vendors,” said Maharjan.

The footpath vendors have been demanding an alternative to it before getting them off the streets.

“Some house-owners and shops along the street are reportedly taking rents and allowing street vendors to put up shops. If we find any shop owners being involved in such act, their licences will not be renewed,” Pandey warned.

On an average 80-90 street vendors and 30-40 carts are present around the Lagankhel-Mangalbazaar vicinity, making streets more crowded and restricting free movement along the footpaths.