Some of the officials argued that the two per cent rule -- percentage of hawkers to the total number of population in the city -- would have an adverse impact on the existing infrastructure and traffic in the city.u00a0

As per civic officials, about 12,000 hawkers, licensed and illegal, operate in the city. If the two per cent rule is implemented, then 66,000 hawkers would occupy the city streets to cater to its population of 33 lakh. Officials argued that instead of acting against illegal hawkers, they would now be forced to protect them.