Vendors cause traffic chaos in Dera Bassi
Satinder Pal Singh
Dera Bassi, November 5
With the Dera Bassi Municipal Council authorities turning a blind eye to the mushrooming encroachments in various areas of the town, street vendors are causing traffic congestion on the Dera Bassi-Ambala and Dera Bassi-Barwala stretch.
Though the council authorities had time and again said they would initiate a drive to remove all makeshift encroachments from outside of shops and on the roadsides, nothing concrete had been done so far.
While taking a round in the town, one can find hand-pulled carts stationed on the Dera Bassi-Ambala stretch and the Dera Bassi-Barwala stretch with the civic functionaries paying no attention to complaints pouring in from residents. The stretch with rampant commercial activity offers a nightmare ride to residents as well as commuters.
Vendors selling various fruit items along the stretch draw a number of customers, who often park their vehicles illegally on the road, reducing motorable space and increasing chances of mishap on this busy stretch.
The traffic police personnel claimed that whenever they asked these vendors to relocate, they opposed the move apprehending business loss.
The inaction and nonchalant attitude on part of the administration towards the traffic offenders has further aggravated the situation.
Residents rued that the vending zone project, under which roadside vendors were to be shifted to special zones, appeared to be a distant dream. Under the Street Vendors Act, it is mandatory for the civic body to come up with a plan.
Harjinder Singh Rangi, president, Municipal Council, Dera Bassi, said the plan to set up vending zones would be tabled in the House meeting.
