No more big-ticket concerts at Sector 34 ground: Admn

Taking note of inconvenience faced by local residents, shopkeepers and commuters during the recent concert of singer Karan Aujla, the UT Administration has in-principle decided not to allow big gatherings in future at the Exhibition Ground in Sector 34. However, the shows of Punjabi singers Diljit Dosanjh and AP Dhillon on December 14 and 21, respectively, will be held as scheduled, as permission for the two events was given in September.

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Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said they had in-principle decided that no permission would be granted in future for huge gatherings at the Exhibition Ground and such events would be allowed only at other open spaces such as the Sector 25 ground.

Sources said the permission for the music concerts scheduled for December 14 and 21 was granted in September. A delegation, led by former city BJP president Arun Sood, yesterday met the DC and demanded that the venue for the two events be shifted to the Sector 25 rally ground to avoid inconvenience to local residents.

During the live concert of Karan Aujla, local residents and businessmen had a tough time with a huge turnout choking the roads around the venue. There are four private hospitals and one medical college and hospital in the vicinity of Sector 34. Residents of the nearby sectors complained that they were virtually detained in their homes during the concert as they couldn’t move out due to traffic restrictions.

Meanwhile, the representatives of the Sector 34 Market Associations said the traffic restrictions caused losses. After such programmes, it takes days to clean trash left by visitors around the venue, they said.

The UT police today held a meeting to address anticipated traffic disruption during the December 14 concert. It also discussed steps to be taken to minimise inconvenience caused to commuters, traders and local residents. The meeting was chaired by UT DGP Surendra Yadav. The police said elaborate security arrangements had been made for the event.