Create separate entry, exit points

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December16

Unlike other markets in the city, the Sector 23 market is the only one that has common exit and entry point, which leads to consistent traffic jams in the area.

Naresh Mahajan, president of the Market Welfare Association, Sector 23, said every day one could see huge traffic jams at the entry of the market. Often, visitors were seen fuming over regular traffic jams. The trouble is compounded by impatient drivers breaking the queues to get ahead.

Mahajan said the association had written to the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and the administration regarding separate entry and exit for the market several times, but to no avail. He said, “Whenever we take up the issue with the authorities, they show their inability to change the original design of the market.”

Davinder Mann, a trader, said there was a need to change bylaws. When the market was designed, there was not much traffic. The number of the vehicles increased over a period of the time, leading to congestion.

Satish Kumar, another trader, said that the market was lacking basic facilities. Besides, it has little space for parking, which was also occupied by vendors. “Street vendors occupy major portion in the area, leaving little space for traffic movement, parking,” he said.

Ramesh Chander, another trader, said the administration could create separate entry and exit points if it wanted, but some officers had made it an issue. He said similar problem was witnessed in the Sector 8 market, but the administration allowed two-way traffic there. Charanjiv Singh, Chairman of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal, said he would take up the issue in the next House meeting of the Municipal Corporation. 

Traderspeak

"Due to single entry, the market witnesses chaotic scenes. We have taken up the matter with the MC, the Administration and the SSP (Traffic) to provide separate entries for the vehicles. As vehicles are coming from all sides, traffic jam becomes a common problem." —Naresh Mahajan 

"The MC and the police have failed to remove street vendors from the market, which is creating parking problem in the area. The condition of the toilets is also not good." — Davinder Mann

"The market does not have proper lighting arrangements. There is also a need to improve the condition of toilets, which are in a dilapidated condition for years." — Satish kumar

"There is an urgent need to create separate entry and exit points for visitors at the market. Rs " — Ramesh Chander