Bhubaneswar: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is setting up a dedicated ‘Gupchup Market’ in the city to offer residents a clean, organised, and safe space to enjoy one of Odisha’s favourite snacks — gupchup (pani puri).
The project, launched as a pilot initiative, aims to streamline roadside vending and ease traffic congestion caused by unauthorised stalls. The BMC has identified a stretch of land in front of the Regional Institute of Education (RIE) to host the vending zone.
Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das inspected the site and reviewed the proposed layout. She said that all gupchup vendors operating between Saheed Nagar Square and Nicco Park will be identified and relocated to the new market. Each vendor will be provided a custom-designed, covered trolley free of cost.
“Gupchup is loved by everyone. We wanted to create a hygienic, designated space where vendors can do business comfortably and safely,” said Mayor Das. “The area was lying unutilised, so we decided to clean it up and use it productively. Vendors will be allowed to operate from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., with proper lighting and hygiene norms like wearing gloves.”
The initiative, city officials said, is part of the BMC’s broader effort to modernise street food vending, ensuring cleanliness, safety, and livelihood security for local vendors while enhancing the city’s urban aesthetics.
-OdishaAge
