Free hand to encroachers as MC looks other way

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 20

It seems that the Municipal Corporation (MC) is least concerned about the inconvenience faced by commuters due to rampant encroachments on city roads. Only a few metres away from the Zone -6 MC office, a large number of vendors have parked their hand-drawn carts on the road to sell fruits. The flow of the traffic on one of the busiest road of the city is hampered due to this illegal occupation of government land by small time traders.

The stretch connects several link roads, including Batala Road, Fathegarh Churian Road and Majitha Road, with the inter-state bus stand.

A large number of illegal auto-rickshaws are already creating traffic congestion on roads. Drivers of three-wheelers stop their vehicles opposite the petrol pump, which adds to traffic chaos.

Haphazardly parked auto-rickshaws leave little space for other vehicles to pass. Crossing the stretch is a nightmare for pedestrians.

Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of Majitha Road said, “Officials of the civic body have given a freehand to encroachers in the city. Anyone can install his/her vend on a road. There is no check even if the any road is blocked due to vehicular congestion. The MC should remove vends for smooth flow of the traffic.”

Neeraj, another resident said, “Earlier, some fruit sellers used to park movable vends on Majitha Road. Now, they have installed permanent kiosks on Majitha Road as there is no check by the department concerned. The MC should designate lots for vendors as it will help remove traffic bottlenecks.”