West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday, 4 July assured hawker representatives that his state administration will not carry out any eviction drive against street vendors anywhere in the state until Durga Puja, scheduled for October 2025. The assurance was given during a meeting at the state secretariat, Nabanna, in Kolkata, and is expected to bring relief to lakhs of hawkers and their families across West Bengal.

What Was Discussed at Nabanna

Chief Minister Adhikari met Asit Saha, state president of the Hawkers' Joint Action Committee, at Nabanna to address the escalating anxiety among the hawker community. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Saha said the prevailing atmosphere of fear over evictions had 'finally ended' following the Chief Minister's commitment.

'The Chief Minister had assured that, on humanitarian grounds, there will be no hawker eviction till Durga Puja this year. Not only that, the Chief Minister assured us of taking up the matter with the Indian Railways Department for a solution for hawkers running their businesses at different railway stations or on land owned by the railways,' Saha said.

Key Developments Since the New Government Took Charge

Since the Adhikari-led government assumed office, eviction drives targeting hawkers at several railway stations across West Bengal had been carried out. Notices were also issued in a number of markets, pushing vendors into severe financial hardship. Many hawkers had simultaneously been demanding a formal rehabilitation policy.

The latest assurance is being widely seen as a significant course correction, at least in the short term, offering vendors a reprieve through the festive season.

What the Government Said on Railways and Rehabilitation

Beyond the eviction moratorium, the Chief Minister also committed to engaging with the Indian Railways Department to find a lasting solution for hawkers operating at railway stations or on railway-owned land — a particularly contentious issue, as the Centre controls railway premises and state governments have limited direct jurisdiction.

An important follow-up meeting between the Hawkers' Joint Action Committee and the Secretary of the State Municipal Affairs Department is scheduled for next week. That meeting is expected to deliberate on the issuance of identity cards for hawkers, rehabilitation modalities, and the broader future policy framework governing street vending in the state.

What Comes Next

The next-week meeting with the Municipal Affairs Department will be closely watched by vendor groups, who are seeking concrete policy commitments beyond the October deadline. With Durga Puja serving as a de facto buffer, the administration will face pressure to present a credible rehabilitation roadmap before the festive season ends. How the state navigates its obligations under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act will determine whether this assurance translates into durable policy or remains a temporary political accommodation.