Patna: Residents and commuters in Patna are expected to see relief from chronic congestion and encroachment around Patna Junction and Mahavir Mandir, after the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) developed a dedicated vending zone near the multi-level parking facility opposite Buddha Smriti Park. The newly built facility, named ‘Crispy Corner’, is designed to relocate informal vendors into an organised space while improving access and mobility in one of the city’s busiest areas.
The vending zone has been constructed on a site that previously housed scrap dealers and was marked by poor sanitation and unregulated occupation. Municipal authorities redeveloped the approximately 12,500 sq ft area into a planned commercial space, dividing it into separate sections for food vendors and sellers of electronic goods. Officials said the redesign aims to transform the location into a clean, safe and structured street food destination.
Infrastructure improvements, including the installation of paver blocks and adequate lighting, have been introduced to address long-standing issues such as waterlogging and unsafe walking conditions. Civic officials said these changes would improve hygiene standards and create a better experience for both vendors and customers, while ensuring smoother pedestrian movement in the surrounding area.
Municipal commissioner Yashpal Meena has directed officials to relocate nearly 100 vendors currently operating near Station Golambar and along the stretch between Mahavir Mandir and the nearby mosque. The relocation is expected to take place within days, following site inspections and consultations with vendors. Authorities have assured affected vendors that the move will not harm their livelihoods and will instead provide them with a secure and authorised place to conduct business without fear of eviction.
The initiative forms part of a broader effort by the municipal corporation to regulate street vending and reduce encroachments in key public areas. A similar vending zone is also under development near Digha Golambar to accommodate vendors displaced from the JP Ganga Path (Marine Drive) corridor. Officials said the project reflects a wider push to balance urban order with economic protection for informal workers, while improving the city’s infrastructure and public spaces.
