Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu virtually inaugurated the state's first Smart Street Vending Market at Mypadu Gate in Nellore on Saturday, a Rs 7 crore initiative designed to empower marginalised street vendors with permanent, modern trading spaces. The event, confirmed by a government press release, marks a key step in Naidu's vision for urban renewal and inclusive economic growth, providing 120 modular shops across 30 smart containers to shield vendors from weather vagaries and informal evictions. Originally slated for October 10 as part of Naidu's Nellore visit—where he also unveiled a Rs 340 crore bio-ethanol plant and Nandha Gokulam Life School—the vending market's launch was rescheduled to virtual mode amid the CM's packed itinerary, ensuring timely rollout without delays.

The project, developed under the Nellore Municipal Corporation's pilot scheme with funding from MEPMA-NULM and urban local body resources, transforms a once-chaotic vending zone into a structured hub at Mypadu Road. Each container accommodates four shops equipped with electricity, water, sanitation, and digital payment kiosks, fostering hygiene and efficiency. Targeted at women self-help groups (SHGs), differently-abled individuals, and backward classes—who comprise over 70% of Andhra's 1.2 lakh registered street vendors—the market aligns with the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.

Local officials, including Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana and Nellore MP V. Prabhakar Reddy, inspected preparations earlier this week, emphasising its role in financial inclusion through subsidised rentals and skill training programmes. Early estimates suggest it could generate Rs 50 lakh in monthly turnover, boosting household incomes in a district where vending sustains 15% of urban livelihoods.

Naidu, addressing virtually from Amaravati, hailed the market as a "boon for the underprivileged," linking it to his government's broader Swarna Andhra-2047 blueprint for sustainable cities. "This is not just infrastructure; it's dignity for our vendors," he stated, urging replication across 175 constituencies. The initiative builds on earlier tenders floated in January 2025 for the pilot, evolving from community consultations that identified relocation needs post-monsoon disruptions.

In Nellore, a coastal hub with growing tourism and fisheries, such markets address spatial conflicts in high-footfall areas like Mypadu Gate, near the iconic Ranganatha Temple. By integrating solar panels and waste management, the design promotes eco-friendliness, reflecting Andhra's push for green urbanism amid climate challenges.

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As the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh, the Nellore market sets a precedent for statewide expansion, with plans for 10 more pilots by year-end under the Rs 500 crore vending corpus. Beneficiaries, including 80 women vendors from SHGs like Jeevika, expressed gratitude for stable setups that reduce daily hassles. Critics, however, call for vigilant monitoring to prevent elite capture of spaces.

With Naidu's TDP-led alliance prioritising welfare post-2024 polls, this launch reinforces commitments to the 2.5 crore informal workers nationwide, potentially inspiring similar models in neighbouring states like Telangana.

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