BMC to issue QR-based identity cards to over 99,000 eligible hawkers

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will issue QR code-based temporary identity cards to more than 99,000 eligible hawkers in Mumbai before June 15, Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi said on Monday.

The distribution process will begin on June 10, Ghadi said at a press conference held at the civic headquarters after a meeting with Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide.

The move is aimed at creating a verifiable system for identifying authorised hawkers and strengthening monitoring of street vending across the city.

The QR-based cards will enable verification of vendors through digitally accessible records and are part of the civic body’s efforts to regulate hawking activities.

Ghadi said the BMC administration had assured that all eligible hawkers would receive the temporary identity cards before June 15.

The announcement comes amid ongoing efforts by the civic body to streamline the identification of authorised vendors and distinguish them from unauthorised hawkers operating in public spaces.

Under the QR-code system, details related to a hawker’s licence and civic records can be digitally verified.

Ghadi also said the formation of the Town Vending Committee is currently under process.

According to information provided by the civic administration, the committee may take another two to three months to be constituted.

The Town Vending Committee plays a key role in regulating street vending, including matters related to vendor surveys, licensing and the identification of hawking and non-hawking zones.

The BMC’s QR-code initiative follows a broader push to strengthen oversight of street vending and maintain a verified database of authorised hawkers across Mumbai.