Nagaland: NMBOA opens festive-season street vendor zone

The New Market Business Owners Association (NMBOA) has announced the opening of designated spaces for street vendors below the New Market parking lot as part of preparations for the festive season. The vendor area will operate from December 2 to December 30.
Addressing a press conference held Tuesday, at NMBOA office, NMBOA secretary Olen Awomi said the initiative aims to better manage the festive rush while providing organized space for vendors.
Last year, 80–90 vendors occupied the area, but due to congestion and parking challenges, the number has been reduced. For this year, 40–50 vendor stalls are planned, including eight trial stalls already in place. Despite opening the opportunity to local vendors, the association reported that no Naga vendors have come forward so far.
To ease traffic flow, NMBOA has arranged 50 four-wheeler parking slots at the parking lot, while two-wheeler parking has been set up below, on one side of the area. Parking fees remain nominal—Rs 20 for four-wheelers (per hour or full day) and Rs 10 for two-wheelers.
The association stated that charges for vendor stalls will also be kept nominal and are yet to be finalized. Funds collected will be used to maintain public utilities such as CCTV cameras and street lights. A total of 32 CCTV cameras are being installed, of which 16 have already been fixed, while installation of the remaining units is underway. NMBOA clarified that these fees will support the maintenance of the cameras, some of which had earlier suffered wiring damage.
Additionally, over 70 street lights—previously damaged or stolen—have been repaired and restored.
Vendors will be allowed to sell items such as second-hand clothes and toys, with no fixed operating hours, allowing flexible business during the festive period.
NMBOA confirmed that all activities are being carried out with permits from the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), in collaboration with the parking lot in-charge, unlike previous years when vendors operated individually.
In response to concerns about security and pickpocketing, NMBOA said it continues to issue public awareness advisories to ensure crowd safety throughout the festive season.