PM SVANidhi – Street Food Hub Proposals
Under the PM SVANidhi (Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi) initiative, the Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning & Design (CoEUPD), NIT Calicut, is supporting the development of Street Food Hub proposals aimed at creating organized, inclusive, and sustainable spaces for street vendors. The initiative focuses on transforming identified sites into well-planned food hubs that provide vendors with improved working environments while offering safe, hygienic, accessible, and attractive public spaces for citizens.
CoEUPD has undertaken site assessments, stakeholder consultations, and design development for proposed Street Food Hubs across Mysuru, Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Kanchipuram, Rameswaram, Madurai, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Palakkad, Ponnani, Thrissur, and Kochi. The planning proposals are tailored to the specific characteristics and requirements of each location, incorporating elements such as food kiosks and carts, dining and seating areas, pedestrian circulation, parking, sanitation facilities, drinking water points, waste management, landscaping, lighting, accessibility, fire safety, and service infrastructure.
The project also emphasizes context-sensitive design and local identity, with proposals incorporating appropriate architectural elements, landscaping, public-realm improvements, and spatial arrangements suited to the character and scale of each city. Detailed site visits and discussions with Urban Local Bodies, MoHUA officials, and other stakeholders have helped assess existing site conditions, understand local requirements, and refine the proposed designs.
Through these interventions, the initiative seeks to strengthen the livelihoods of street food vendors while creating vibrant, well-managed, hygienic, and inclusive urban spaces. The proposals aim to demonstrate how street vending can be integrated into the urban fabric through thoughtful planning and design, contributing to local economic activity, improved public spaces, and a better experience for both vendors and visitors.