Unauthorised vendors to face police action in Chandigarh

In a bid to ensure smooth pedestrian movement and maintain civic order, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has intensified its action against unauthorised and illegal street vending across the city.

The enforcement wing recorded a large number of vendors illegally occupying footpaths, pavements and public passages by placing stalls, rehris and tables, resulting in inconvenience to pedestrians and disruption of public movement.

It further been observed that during enforcement and anti-encroachment drives, some of the vendors create disturbances, obstruct official duties and, at times, resort to abusive behaviour and physical altercations, leading to law and order concerns.

Such illegal vending activities have been found predominantly in Sectors 15, 17, 19, 22, 41 and Manimajra. Despite repeated challans and seizure of vending material by the enforcement wing, these vendors continue to resume unauthorised vending, showing disregard for civic regulations.

To address the issue firmly, the Municipal Corporation has directed the Chandigarh Police to register cases against illegal and unauthorised vendors under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, on receipt of complaints from the Municipal Corporation, citizens or otherwise.

At the same time, the civic body’s engineering wing has been instructed to strengthen civic infrastructure within designated vending zones by ensuring proper lighting, adequate water supply, installation of paver blocks and clear demarcation of vending sites for registered street vendors, enabling lawful and organised vending.