Ownership rights sought for Old Book Market vendors

Seeking a resolution to the long-standing demands of vendors in Sector 15, area councillor Saurabh Joshi led a delegation of the Old Book Market Association to meet Municipal Corporation Commissioner Amit Kumar.

The meeting focused on converting the vendors’ sites at the Old Book Market from a licensee category to leasehold ownership, a policy already implemented in other city markets like Patel, Shastri and Krishna Markets. Joshi highlighted the importance of this change in ensuring stability and security for the vendors.

Highlighting the corporation’s current financial challenges, Joshi pointed out that the association was ready to pay the required amount for ownership conversion. “The Old Book Market is a vital part of Chandigarh’s cultural heritage. Providing ownership rights under the leasehold system will not only secure the vendors’ livelihoods, but also generate significant revenue for the corporation,” he stated.

The Commissioner assured the delegation that their concerns would be reviewed, along with a legal opinion, and sent to the UT Adviser.