STREET VENDORS AND URBAN MOBILITY: ASSESSING HAWKERS’ IMPACT ON TRAFFIC

Abstract

In urban economies, both the formal organized sector and the informal unorganized sector play crucial roles in resource generation. In many Asian cities, the urban poor primarily rely on the informal sector for their livelihoods, with street vending serving as a major source of income. However, many hawkers operate far from their residences, commuting by bus or motorbike to their vending sites. The encroachment of hawkers on public spaces reduces pedestrian and vehicular mobility, contributing significantly to traffic congestion—a persistent challenge in megacities like Karachi. Saddar, a central hub and major transport interchange in Karachi, faces severe congestion due to extensive encroachments caused by unauthorized use or informal occupation of public land. Although municipal authorities have conducted several anti-encroachment drives, such efforts have provided only temporary relief. The proposed revitalization plan for Saddar includes measures such as rerouting public transport, relocating hawkers, and transforming the area into a pedestrian-friendly zone. This vision aims to restore Saddar’s cultural and commercial vitality, fostering it as a multi-class recreational and shopping destination within the modern city. The study employs a questionnaire-based survey targeting local visitors and residents of Saddar to identify key urban mobility issues and assess the impact of hawker settlements on traffic flow.