Traders in Kozhikode announce protest against unauthorised street vending

Traders from Kozhikode, associated with the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti (KVVES), have declared a protest against the proliferation of unauthorized street vendors in areas not designated for vending by local bodies. The district committee of the merchant association plans to march to the Kozhikode Corporation office at 10 a.m. on October 6, 2026, followed by a sit-in, demanding action against unauthorized street vending.

This protest is part of a call issued by the State committee, and the organization has threatened to extend the agitation to other municipal corporations and gram panchayats if their demands are not met.

KVVES officials claim that the spread of unauthorized vending activities on streets and in front of commercial establishments has become a significant challenge for small traders who operate legally and comply with various statutory requirements. They argue that traders are required to bear expenses such as shop rent, license fees, GST, and professional tax, while unauthorized vendors operate in the same areas without any similar obligations.

The increasing presence of vendors in front of shops has already impacted business, and in some cases, has forced traders to consider shutting down their establishments, according to the traders' body.

The KVVES demands that street vending be restricted to areas designated by local self-government institutions in accordance with the Street Vendors Act. They also call for the immediate removal of unauthorized vendors operating outside the designated areas. Additionally, the traders under KVVES oppose a proposal to impose a Merchant Discount Rate on UPI transactions exceeding ₹2,000.

As part of their protest, the merchants plan to boycott UPI payments on October 15, 2026, and organize a march and sit-in at the Lok Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on the same day.