The Hotel Owners’ Association of Mysuru has issued a warning to authorities, threatening that hoteliers will set up carts outside their establishments and operate without paying taxes if roadside food vendors are not relocated to designated food zones.
Association president C. Narayana Gowda stated that over 3,000 roadside vendors selling food, snacks, and meals, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, have emerged across the 65 wards of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) in the last six months. These vendors, he claimed, are operating illegally without licenses or paying taxes, conducting significant business volume.
In contrast, hoteliers are required to obtain multiple clearances, licenses from MCC, Labour Department, FSSAI, and other agencies, while also paying fees, taxes, and GST.
Mr. Gowda urged authorities, including Mysuru District Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, MCC Commissioner Shaikh Tanveer Asif, and local MLAs, to evict these vendors from non-designated food zones. He warned that their unchecked presence not only impacts the business of legitimate hoteliers but also mars the city’s beauty and deters tourism.
If immediate action is not taken, hoteliers may resort to running food carts themselves without adhering to licensing or tax regulations, Mr. Gowda warned.
