Encroachments on roads multiply

With the festival of lights just two days apart, residents are on a buying spree for the festivities. That’s why, almost every roadside and footpath in the city has been encroached by vendors and shopkeepers. Even shop owners themselves are indulging in encroachments as they are using the area in front of their shops for displaying their goods.

Some of them have even set up beautiful pandals to attract customers. However, this has led to an increased chaos in marketplaces. Even the width of the road has shrunk due to encroachments causing harassment to commuters as traffic moves at a snail’s pace. Frequent traffic jams are being witnessed daily.

In the busy markets such as in Putlighar, Chheharta and Hall Bazaar areas, the tents set up by shopkeepers have become a nuisance for both pedestrians and commuters. From selling decorative items to clothes to electronic gadgets, dry fruits, sweets, furniture and many other items, shopkeepers are using footpaths to display all kinds of goods.

The situation is even worse in narrow markets near the Golden Temple where even pedestrians are unable to find their way amid a glut of goods displayed in the streets. Residents complain that during the festival season, shopkeepers consider it their right to use public space for commercial activities.

Harnam Singh, a local resident, said, “Some encroachments are always there on roads, but near the festival season, shopkeepers further expand their shops by encroaching on government land. In the absence of any check, shopkeepers have shunned obeying the law.” He said that the municipal corporation must rid the footpaths of all kinds of encroachments.

Residents complain that action by the MC to remove encroachments is often symbolic as it has so far failed to bring any real change. “If the MC is serious, then these encroachments can be removed overnight,” said Sushant Kumar, another resident, adding that people are afraid of going to markets due to chaos on roads.