Traders fed up with parking mess in Sector 22-B, look to Chandigarh MC for resolution

The Traders Welfare Association of Sector 22-B has raised concerns over the worsening parking situation in the market, especially opposite the ISBT-17.

The association emphasised that the deteriorating infrastructure and unchecked encroachments were severely disrupting business activity and putting public safety at risk.

Gopal K Wadhwa, president of the association, said the parking area remained fully occupied throughout the day. They were losing business as customers could not find parking space in the lot. He said parking attendants allegedly permit vehicles without verifying space availability, resulting in complete disorder and under-utilisation of space.

Members of the association said vendors occupied not just the pavements and parking areas but also the medians, leaving no room for pedestrian movement. Many deliberately park their own vehicles around their stalls to block public parking and ensure easy customer access to their set-ups.

The poor condition of the surrounding roads worsened the problem, adding to vehicle congestion and making navigation unsafe for both pedestrians and drivers. The current layout prevented entry for ambulances, fire brigades or other emergency vehicles, endangering lives in the event of any incident, they added.

Unauthorised stalls operating in unhygienic conditions have mushroomed throughout the parking area. These vendors heavily litter the area.

The association suggested that the Municipal Corporation should utilise the vacant land adjacent to Hotel Sunbeam—where an EV charging station was installed but later shut down for reasons unknown. They suggested converting the space into a managed parking lot and relocating the taxi stand behind Hotel Sunbeam. This would open up additional, organised parking for the public. Such action, they believed, would ease congestion, encourage cleaner surroundings and enhance MC revenue through regulated parking systems.