Apathy robs this market of vigour

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, February 17

Non-functional street lights, broken railing, dilapidated condition of toilets and roads and lack of sanitation are some of the problem being faced by traders of the Sector 46 market.

This is the only market catering to the need of Sector 47, but the MC fails to take care of the facilities for visitors.

 Balvinder Singh, president of the Market Welfare Association, Sector 46-C, said the market has been bearing the brunt of the Municipal Corporation's apathy for a long time now. 

The main problem is non-functional street lights in the market. He said in the absence of the proper lights, traders and visitors face problems in the evening. He says the association members have taken the issue with the officers of the MC several times, but to no avail.

Satyawan, another trader, said the railings have also been broken at many places. The MC has failed to repair them for long.

Ajay Sharma, a trader, says the sanitation condition of the area is unsatisfactory. He said roads in the market have many potholes which need to be repaired immediately.

Trader Anil Mahajan said there was a need for proper maintenance of toilets in the market, in the absence of which, traders and the visitors are being inconvenienced. 

He said the onus for maintaining toilets lies on the MC, but apparently, it is failing in its duty. 

Balvinder Singh said the MC has also failed to get separate marking for two-wheelers and four-wheelers which causes chaos within the market. Railings have also been broken at several places, but they have not repaired. 

Traders also demanded that traffic in the area be regulated as visitors park vehicles on both sides of the roads. They also demanded that the police patrolling be increased in the view of a large number of students taking coaching in the area. They said the dogs menace should also be curbed.

Traderspeak

"Street lights are not functioning properly. The association has taken up the issue with the MC several times, but in vain." — Balvinder Singh

"Paver blocks and railings have been broken at many places in the market. The sanitation is also very unsatisfactory."— Ajay Sharma

"There is no separate marking for two-wheelers and four-wheelers which creates chaos in the market."—Satyawan

"There is a dire need for making street lights functional in the market, as traders and visitors often fear being targeted by the miscreants. " — Anil Mahajan