Bhadaur House-I: Encroachments cause traffic to move at snail’s pace, commuters face hardships

Encroachments at Bhadaur House continue to give a difficult time to the people coming to the area. With the AC market, one of the biggest and popular markets of North India located here, thousands of traders and businessmen descend upon the place every day but with both sides of the road encroached upon by rickshaws and rehris, it becomes a Herculean task to reach the spot.

One can see roadside vendors with rehris lined up on both sides of the road, leaving almost no space for commuters to pass from the stretch. Rehris can be seen on the roads from Damoria Bridge to Bhadaur House and till Mata Rani Chowk and Chaura Bazaar. The worst affected is the Bhadaur House area where rickshaws are parked on both sides of the road and to add to the woes, there is hardly any parking space available in the area as shopkeepers pile up their stock in the parking area and in corridors of the market.

Harish Maini, who works at a bank located in the area, said encroachments give difficult time to those visiting the area. “It is not possible to come here in a four-wheeler due to which I started coming to my workplace on a two-wheeler. The situation becomes worse on weekends and on Thursday, when buyers in large numbers come to the market. The corporation should take strict action against the encroachments,” he said.

Khushboo, a boutique owner and frequent visitor to the market, said she always hires an autorickshaw to reach the place as one gets usually stuck in a traffic jam and space for parking vehicles is also not available here.

“The road is encroached upon by the rickshaw-pullers and goods to be delivered and the parking space is generally encroached upon by shopkeepers by piling up their stock. The market has big variety of clothes but reaching here is a difficult task,” she said.

Amit, who works at an office located in the market, said many times shopkeepers keep sacks full of stock material on his two-wheeler. As a result, once his bike was found lying on the ground due to which it suffered damages and he had to shell out money to get the same fixed.

The corridors of the market are also encroached upon by shopkeepers. “It becomes difficult to find a way to walk in the corridors as stock is piled up here and rickshaw-pullers also sit here waiting for their customers,” said Bhavika, who came to a salon in the market.

Ludhiana North MLA Madan Lal Bagga said he was aware of problems in the Bhadaur House area and now, when the festival season is over, they are planning to work on the issue of encroachments. “Many small roadside vendors came up during the festival season and we did not want them to bear losses. But now, encroachment drives will be carried out and we will make sure to clear the area of encroachments,” Bagga said.

MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said the civic body would initiate the anti-encroachment drive and all encroachments would be removed from the area. Bhadaur House was one of the oldest markets in the city and they would make sure that people coming to the place have a pleasant experience. Those encroaching upon the road should also understand their moral responsibility and desist from the act.

MC office located a few meters away

Though the Municipal Corporation’s Zone A office is located only a few meters away from the place, no official ever bothers to clear the place of encroachments to ensure people visiting the area did not face any inconvenience.