1. INTRODUCTION
Designing for the informal sector
The infamous “informal sector” has always been part of society in some
way or the other even though we rarely acknowledge their presence. We are
used to this group of people popping up in our lives from time to time, though we
have never felt the need to acknowledge them beyond the timespan of our
purpose. As the ice candy man or as the Chatwallah or the Sabjiwallah, we have
encountered and interacted with them numerous times in our day to day lives.
They are so absorbed into our psyche right from childhood as invisible people
who are just props in the setting of the place.
The Informal sector is born out of some of the poorest sections of the
society. Some of them would also be homeless. In a country like India, they
would most probably also be uneducated, desolate or handicapped. Their sole
means of living would be from the meager earnings obtained from selling their
wares in the streets.
Nobody knows their whereabouts: where they come from. They just do, wherever
there are people, selling us goods at cheap rates. They are sometimes seen
around temples,churches and mosques selling items needed for worship. They
are also seen at the major recreation places like the beach and park. They offer
the best The advent of the air conditioned shopping mall has dealt a blow to them
by means of imitations of street vending carts within them.
As a people,we have all enjoyed savouring food sold from the mobile carts
occasionally atleast. Save for apprehensions of hygiene,there aren’t many
deterring factors that prevent us from eating out of these mobile carts. It is an
enjoyable experience for most of youngsters and children.
Most of the goods that these vendors sell are interesting knick knacks or small
items of great utility. in more cases than one, these items wouldn’t be available in
other shops too.but the biggest usp of the goods sold by the street vendors would
be their cost.they will be affordable to anybody. Though their quality may not be
comparable to that of goods sold in proper shops, but they have value for money.

2. INFORMAL SECTOR: CHARACTERISTICS AND ISSUES
Informal sector sprouts in places where there is already sufficient people inflow
(tourist/local) for various reasons…..Like we see a whole variety of vendors
around temples or churches selling both necessary items of worship and knick
knacks. These street vendors add on to the character of the setting and become
indistinguishable from the place in the long run.
Tourism and the informal sector go hand in hand. Wherever there is an inflow of
tourists, you can see the natural sprouting of the informal sector in and around it.
Informal sector sellers are seen more in crowded settings rather than posh ones.
This is owing to the fact that these vendors provide the domestic people with a
cheaper option of goods.
It is mainly children and the youth that are the main target groups of the informal
sector.so also would be housewives who are in need of small utility goods.
The informal sector benefits from the following:
Their strategic positioning
Right wares to sell-how popular they are
The attractiveness of the stall
THE GOODS SOLD BY THE STREET VENDORS
From carts selling thirst quenchers for the heat to fancy items spread out on a
cloth on the footpath……..street vendors are omnipresent in any typical Indian
market setting.
The informal sector mainly caters to the lower sections of the society in a way
because of their affordability than their quality, and also to the curious tourist
wanting to immerse themselves in the culture of the place that they are visiting.
Any place with potential tourist inflow has potential for the informal sector.
Cochin, the commercial capital of Kerala is host to a sizable population of the
informal sector of the state. This is mainly the offshoot of the thriving tourism
scenario and the cosmopolitan and consumerist nature of the city.

3. OUR SITE: ERNAKULAM MARKET AND BROADWAY
Ernakulam market and Broadway formed the core of Cochin for a long time
before the city began its growth eastwards due to increasing population. They
formed the hub of the trade of the region helped greatly by the canal running
along the Ernakulam market connecting it to the backwaters. It is the ernakulam
market which catered to the adjacent islands and places in other far off districts
like kottayam and thrissur apart from the mainland for a long time till the late
70s .transportation of goods to and from here was mainly supported by the canal.
The Broadway (apparently named so since it was the broadest road in
ernakulam then) was on the other hand the hub of all wholesale and retail selling
in cochin till the early 80s.It continues to be a well frequented place even
now,however without the former glory and pride of place that was attached with
it.the slew of supermarkets and shopping malls are what are more recognizable
with the new generation when it comes to grocery and shopping.
However, this place is still quite far from being totally defunct and lost
.There is still a steady customer base to the place from the islands and also the
old customers of the place who still think about the place nostalgically
.youngsters even though don’t see it as a destination for themselves are still
brought in in reasonable numbers due to the close proximity of the marine drive
and shops selling stationary, electronic knick knacks and fancy items in
broadway.it may be said that the customer base of broadway is more
lowermiddle to middle class with a considerable sprinkling of tourists thrown in.
The place being situated in the middle of the cbd has a thriving life in and around
it with theatres, colleges; shopping malls, exhibition grounds, parks and religious
institutions flanking it.
It is also noteworthy that there is a definite cosmopolitan nature to the
place. Though to a lesser degree compared to the past when there were Gujarati,
Konkani and Jewish tradersnow there are a few distinct shops run by Gujaratis
and Konkanis at Broadway. The Jews later came to be confined mainly to
Mattancherry, a nearby island.
On the whole Broadway and Ernakulam market
has a unique sense of place quite different from other CBDs of cities.
The tourists that frequent the place do not as a rule enter into the market area
since it is congested.

4. HOW BROADWAY AND MARKET HAS POTENTIAL FOR STREET
VENDORS?
• Close proximity to marine drive, which experiences a great inflow of locals
regularly and tourists seasonally. the most frequented places of
ernakulam.these are mainly casual shoppers.
• Close proximity to the major tourist destinations in kochi-like fort kochi,
bolghatty, mattancherry and major hotels accomodating tourists like the
gateway hotel and the govt. guest house at walkable distance brings it in
the purview of the a tourist to kochi visits.
• Inflow of large no. of locals daily for buying stationary, accessories,
electronic goods ,home appliances, textile, grocery, spices, hardware,
jewellery to broadway and market.
• Presence of heritage structures like the thekkumbhagom and
kadavumbhagom synagogue that are part of the culture and built heritage
of the state in the vicinity.
TOURISM SCENARIO AT BROADWAY AND ERNAKULAM MARKET
Kerala's prime tourist destination, it spreads across islands and promontories in a
stunning location between the Arabian Sea and Backwaters. Its main sections:
modern Ernakulam in the east and the old districts of Mattancherry and Fort
Cochin on a peninsula in the west are linked by a complex system of ferries.
Ernakulam is the most modern city of Kerala with options for best shopping,
markets and bazaars dotted with a number of sites and monuments of historical
significance. Keeping in mind the sound infrastructure this region provides
tourists; you can plan a visit to Kochi absolutely anytime of the year. However,

5. the peak season to travel Kochi is between October and April, when hot and dry
climate prevails.
The major tourist attractions and fairs in and around Broadway drawing in tourist
are:
• Marine drive
• Cochin carnival
• Broadway shopping festival
• Mattancherry, Fort Kochi, Willingdon island heritage zone.
• Veega land, Subash Park, durbar hall ground and other recreational
areas.
• Various temples, churches, mosques, synagogues and other
monumental buildings.
• Boating in backwaters, cherai beach etc
TOURIST ACCOMMODATION AND FACILITIES:
Availability of quality infrastructure is a very critical component of tourism system.
Kochi offers world class infrastructure and amenities to all classes of tourists.
Accommodation ranges from five star hotels, heritage resorts, home stays etc to
economical lodgings.
The accommodation around Broadway ranges from Taj residency,govt.
guest house to cheap loadings.
In and around Broadway there are number of restaurants, which includes bharath
coffee house right at the Broadway entry and others located along the
shanmugham road.
Buses do not ply across Broadway and market place but there are many a
bus stops along shanmugham road which provide easy access to Broadway.
Category
of hotel at
Ernakulam
5 star
Deluxe
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star Heritage
2 2 4 17 9 6 2

6. Parking facilities for tourist buses and private vehicals at marine drive
grounds owned by gcda reduce the vehicular congestion of this area.
Along the marine drive boat jetties are provided with a well defined network
connecting all the islands.
Tourist information centers are located at
• Government Of India Tourist Office, Willingdon Island
• Kerala Tourism Development Corporation Tourist Reception Centre,
Shanmugham Road
• Tourist Information Centre
Old Collectorate Building, Park Avenue
Kochi
• Tourist Information Officer, Dept of Tourism
Kochi
TOURISM: PROBLEMS AND POTENTIALS OF KOCHI REGION
PROBLEMS
In general. even though the number of tourists is showing an increasing
trend the percentage share of foreign tourist arrivals is decreasing. the period of
stay of tourist in kochi is decreasing as the other locations in the neighboring
districts are getting popularized. lack of information and publicity about that
tourist centres other than fort kochi ant mattancherry.
transportation: transportation linkages connecting various tourism spots are
weak.
transportation facilities from terminals to tourist centres are insufficient. absence
of signages, facilitation centres and complaint points at terminals tourist centres
and travel circuit. inadequate off-street parking spaces at tourists centres. disuse
of inland waterways.
inherent attractions. underutilization of the extensive networks of rivers lakes and
canals.
destruction of heritage elements. lack of performing arts centres recreational
activities such as golf course etc.
tourism facilities. absence of moderate hotels with good services near tourist
centres. absence of eating places serving hygienic local food. lack of wayside
amenity centres and comfort stations along travel circuits. absence of enough

7. conducted tours connecting various tourist sites. lack of qualified guides. lacks of
boats and coaches.
image. the image of backwater city is not properly maintained. uncontrolled water
front
developed without considering the landscape and environment. lack of marketing
facilities for the products from souvenir industries and traditional cottage
industries. health care sector –especially ayurveda – is not properly exploited.
non availability of good quality potable water at tourist centers. poor drainage and
sanitation system. inefficient solid waste management system. growing trend of
slums.
STREET VENDORS AT BROADWAY
Like in any well frequented place, street vendors also have a role to play in the
scheme of things at Broadway and Ernakulam market. Broadway and the market
is littered with street vendors and hawkers selling goods varying from fancy items
like sunglasses, utility goods like bicycle pumps to thirst quenchers and chat.
Though there is no provision given for these street vendors, at the peak hours of
4 to 8 pm especially on Mondays and weekends, one can find the place filled with
them.They seem to appear out of nowhere since they leave no clue that they
were there a day before until they arrive the next day except for a few who sell
their goods on carts. They leave their carts at the place itself overnight.
LAYOUT OF VENDORS
kerala is well known for its ribbon development scenario where development
happens along both sides of a road.this is easily attributable to the narrow
geography of the state.broadway follows the same pattern.
broadway is a 1 km long stretch of road in the cbd of ernakulam district aligned n-
s almost parallel to the coastline.it once fronted the
coastline.but land had been later reclaimed from the coast to build the
shangumugham road, the present marine drive and host of new constructions
flanking it,thus shutting off Broadway from the Vembanad canal.there are
incursions of the canal into the main land at a few places in cochin.one of them
happens at the foot of the broadway where the market starts.thus the market
core is aligned along the valavi road which runs perpendicular to broadway at its
northern end.
the market runs perpendicular to it at its northern end.

8. The street vendors are interspersed along stretches of broadway and
market(valavi road)…….mainly at the junctions where smaller roads cut across
owing to the better business potential there.however this is seen as a hazard by
many since the presence of vendors at these already congested junctions adds
onto the woes of the common man.
There are street vendors along these smaller cross roads too.
Street vendors nearby market
The street vendors are more thickly distributed in the market.apart from the
junction at the entry point of the market ,the street vendors are also spread along
the side of the canal littering the canal with garbage.this is a major issue since
the canal and market pond once was the self cleansing mechanism of the place
though it is now turning fast into a drainage canal.hence relocation of the street
vendors along this stretch is an urgent necessity.
Understandably,there is a change in character of the street vendors in the market
compared to broadway since in the market the street vendors mainly sell
perishables like fruits and vegetables.
What the Street vendors have to say-
We interviewed a few street vendors and enquired about what their problems
were. Here is what they had to say-
• “I travel from very far to sell my goods here….I have been doing it for
years now……There is no other means of living for me……..”
• “The footpath is where we can display our goods…..there also we are at
the mercy of the rains…….w ere forced to close shop when there is
incessant rain…… it doesn’t help us at all that the footpaths are not
sometimes even sufficient for people to walk by……..”
• “There is no demarcated space for us vendors anywhere along Broadway.
We can only sell our wares in front of other shops…..which leads to
congestion during peak hours……..”
• “…….owing to the parking ban in the area, people on vehicles find it
difficult to stop by and do their shopping……Hence the parking ban has

9. affected our businesses……..there is no place that people can park their
vehicles at and buy our stuff and go…”
• “We find it difficult to sell our goods in this placing due to lack of space
and government policies supporting us…..we cant even begin to hope for
public toilets or restrooms for us….”
THE GOODS SOLD BY THE STREET VENDORS AT BROADWAY
Quite in tune with the wide variety of shopping choices on offer at Broadway, the
street vendors here also sell a wide spectrum of wares. The wares sold by the
Street vendors at Broadway vary from sunglasses to instant noodles.
The character of broadway changes gradually from a comparatively more
upmarket one to a more market like setting as you go from south to north. This
reflects in the pattern of the street vendors too. Whereas one can see a street
vendor selling sunglasses towards the southern end, when at the northern end
,one encounters vendors selling knives and vegetables.the street vending pattern
is also influenced by the various cross roads that cut through broadway
intermittently.each of these roads are dedicated to specific goods….for example
the cloth bazaar road….having textile shops.
OBJECTIVES OF DESIGN INTERVENTION
Organizing the street vendors at Broadway by
1. Assigning hawker’s zones where they have spaces assigned exclusively for
selling their goods.
Such zones will be placed such that they enjoy strategic positions for better
business for the street vendors.
Selection of such zones would also take into view that the street vending zone
doesn’t come in between major routes of traffic and bring about congestion.

10. 2. Having attractive designs for street vending stalls which will enhance the
setting of the place and not mar it.
3. Providing a solution for safekeeping of their goods overnight.
4. Providing solutions for waste disposal and maintenance of hygiene especially
in the case of street vendors selling food items.
5.converting certain streets into “no vehicular area” thus enhanceing street
shopping
6.redesigning the present core market with provision for the vendors.
SOLUTION Design interventions
1.Identification of hawking zones within broadway and ernakulam market
Proper zoning of the street vendors into a hawkers zone will be beneficial in
obtaining the twin objectives of accommodating the informal sector and easing
congestion.
The zones identified within broadway and ernakulam market are the unused
market square near the market pond and the core market after redesigning it.
The core market is in bad shape and hence needs to be renovated.we
propose to redesign the core market keeping in mind the street vendors
too,accommodating a certain amount of storage facility for their goods
along with the basic amenities provided for the market as a whole.
2.Relocation of street vendors
Street vendors at the following points are in need of urgent relocation
• Most of the street vendors along the canal in valavi road (market).this will
ensure the opening up of the canal to pedestrians.once the canal is
dredged ,then strict measures can be implemented to prevent garbage
disposal in the market pond.in the long run the market pond and canal can
then act as an alternate means of transportation of goods to the

11. place,easing congestion on the roads.this will benefit the street vendors in
the long run.
• Some of the street vendors at major bottleneck junctions of broadway.
3.Streets to be pedestrianized
• Our proposal is to pedestrianise the streets leading upto both historically
important structures of the thekkumbhagom and kadavumbhagom
synagogues.
• This will make way for street vendors to have their places on these roads-
jew street and valavi road enhancing the ambience of the two historic
structures.
Implementation
• As with any policy involving the urban neighbourhood , implementing
these design interventions is as important as chalking out policies.
• There will be many hurdles in the path of implementation the main ones
being that of how to tackle resistance to relocation from the vendors.most
of the vendors have been present for years and it would be hard to make
them move from their respective places.
• Pedestrianizing streets is also easier said than done.it needs the
involvement of more than the architect.since the law enforcers of the place
should also come into the fore to bring about the successful intervention in
this case.
• Redesigning the core market is an intervention which will be welcomed by
one and all.it wouldn’t be a major isuue in accommodating street vendors
and amenities there.
Conclusion
The informal sector has and will continue to be a thorn in the flesh for planners,
especially due to the population explosion and congestion that has come to be
associated with modern day cities. The street vendors are very much a part of
the society and they need to be looked after too while designing. the current state

12. of affairs has been reached mainly because there was a lack of planning towards
for such a class of people. Hence any future planning should take the informal
sector into consideration.