Mumbai civic body to issue QR codes to licensed hawkers from June 10

A Shiv Sena (UBT) delegation with BMC chief Ashwini Bhide (in striped saree). PIC/X/@misanjayghadi

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will likely issue QR codes to all authorised and licensed hawkers starting June 10, according to official sources.

This comes after a delegation of the Shiv Sena (UBT) met Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide on Monday, urging that the registered hawkers of Mumbai be issued identity cards embedded with QR codes.

The delegation demanded that, in compliance with the Bombay High Court's directives - which prohibits hawking at 20 specific locations - the remaining areas be officially designated as ‘hawking zones'.

Give licence to all: Sena (UBT)

While the delegation demanded that 99,435 hawkers across Mumbai should get QaR codes, a senior civic official said there are only a little over 10,000 licensed hawkers in Mumbai. "The figure of 99,435 has been arrived at due to the number of hawkers who filled their forms applying to the Town Vending Committee [TVC] in 2024 for regularisation of their licenses. Once the TVC is operational, the committee can take a call on their licenses," said the official. The Opposition has also demanded that the TVC should be formed as soon as possible, as per directives from the high court.

There are a little over 10,000 licensed hawkers in Mumbai. REPRESENTATION PIC/I STOCK

What is the BMC's plan?

mid-day had in April reported that civic plans to introduce QR code identification for licensed hawkers and stricter enforcement in areas with persistent violations and low compliance. The BMC has identified 20 high-footfall locations across the city for focused action against unauthorised hawkers as part of a renewed push to keep key stretches encroachment-free. The plan includes daily eviction operations with police support and the introduction of QR codes for licensed hawkers to improve monitoring and compliance.

At a glance

Action focus: 20 hawker-prone locations
Objective: Keep key footpaths hawker-free
Enforcement: Daily eviction drives with police support

Tech measure:
QR codes for licensed hawkers
Total licensed hawkers: 12,567