‘Ill-conceived’ entry, exit points of Mohali mall causing traffic chaos: Sector 66 residents

Sector 66, Mohali, residents are facing daily inconvenience and hassles due to traffic jams, frequent accidents, pollution and sanitation issues arising out of a shopping mall near the residential area.

The situation behind Jubilee Junction Mall in Sector 66, here, is chaotic due to ill-conceived back-side entry points, leading to heavy traffic jams, frequent accidents. On Monday morning, local residents gathered at the spot and expressed strong resentment against the administration.

Deputy Mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi visited the site to assess the situation. He said because of the ill-conceived entry and exit planning connected to the mall, delivery vehicles, cabs and other traffic passed through the residential areas, resulting in daily traffic congestion and unwanted activities. Area councillor, Master Charan Singh also highlighted that residents were facing serious hardships.

Bedi said, “Poor planning and thoughtless construction of entry points is troubling local residents. Long queues of vehicles block the front of people’s houses, and even in emergency situations, there is no clear passage.” He further explained that although these houses were located behind the mall, their entry points open toward the mall side, which worsened the problem.

He also expressed concern over the spread of filth and the worsening sewerage situation. According to him, some commercial units were illegally pumping out dirty water, spreading foul smells and increasing the risk of health-related diseases. “Women, children and elderly residents are the worst affected,” he said.

Residents said, “People pay taxes and they deserve basic civic amenities, and order.”

In Sector 70, residents of Homeland society, Mayfair and Rishi Apartments complained that there was a 24 hour nuisance due to noise pollution in their area as loud music was played in Jubilee Walk Mall, late in the night. Residents cannot sleep peacefully due to this noise. Visitors here park their vehicles haphazardly on road in vicinity of the mall and block the entry and exit points of society and apartments.

“The management uses the front parking area of the mall for commercial activities, including sitting arrangements for their customers, while vehicles are parked on the road. The huge parking in basement of the mall remains empty as visitors avoid paying charges,” said a Mayfair society resident.

Ward No. 34 councillor Sukhdev Patwari said, “We have met the DC and the SSP in this regard, but no solution has been found for the problems faced by residents.”

Residents questioned why GMADA and the Municipal Corporation gave permissions for commercial activities in the residential areas. They urged the administration, the traffic police, and the Health Department to conduct a joint inspection, close the illegal entry points, improve traffic management and find a solution to the worsening sewerage problem.