Ranchi, where vendors are infamous for squeezing thoroughfares, is coming of age.

The capital city will host, in a couple of months from now,four night markets, a concept hitherto alien to Jharkhand but tourist magnets in some Indian states like Goa and across South East Asia and the UAE.

The Ranchi Municipal Corporation's (RMC) brainwave is, however, focussed more on decongesting Main Road rather than attracting visitors from outside the capital.

The civic guardians have identified Line Tank Road, the taxi stand near Vishal Mega Mart, the space behind Hanuman Temple on Main Road and the parking zone near Albert Ekka Chowk as the four places that will host the two-hour markets from 8.30pm. These areas usually remain dark and deserted after 8pm, and the RMC plans proper illumination to transform them into the city's most happening markets.

More than 2,000 hawkers flank the busy Main Road every day, selling a range of colourful wares including clothes, junk jewellery, leather goods and handicraft items, but in the process shrink road space and trigger traffic bottlenecks.

In order to ease movement of vehicles, former traffic SP Rajiv Ranjan had introduced the lakshman rekha, a demarcation line painted in white to restrict encroachment of road by vendors. But, rules are made to be broken in Jharkhand.

"Things will change once we launch the four night markets. During daytime, Main Road remains too crowded for business and commuting to go hand in hand. At night, the roads are less congested and the weather is pleasant for a leisurely stroll through open-air markets. We shall seek logistics support from the district administration," said deputy mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya.

Traffic SP Y.S. Ramesh said shoppers venturing out at night would not have to worry about safety and security. "We will cope with those challenges because, in the long run, it will only ease traffic snarls here. In many big cities like Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, the concept of night market has become quite popular. Our Ranchi can do it too," he added.

Hawkers, doing brisk business on Main Road on Monday morning, welcomed the idea. "We are happy because we will earn extra when the night markets are launched. For now, the government should give us a suitable place to do business during daytime)," said Md Iqbal at Albert Ekka Chowk.

Mani Gopal Rahe, the market supervisor of RMC, said the vendors would be allotted permanent shops at Jaipal Singh Stadium, near St Xavier's College and in Madhukumon Ratu Road for daytime business.