Rehri markets to come up at nine locations in Panipat

The municipal corporation has decided to establish ‘rehri’ markets at nine places in the city. In this regard, the process to earmark space for ‘rehris’ under the flyover on NH-44 is underway.

On Monday, scores of ‘rehri’ owners — led by Samyukta Vyapar Mandal president Darshan Lal Wadhwa, general secretary Gaurav Leekha, chairman Sushil Bharara; and councillors Anil Madaan and Aman Munjal — met Mayor Komal Saini regarding the allotment of sufficient space to ‘rehri’ owners.

The MC on Sunday began marking yellow lines in a designated block under the flyover. In the first phase, around 100 ‘rehri’ vendors would get space here.

The Mayor said the ‘rehris’ which were earlier in the Insar market, Chaura Bazar, Salarganj market, Shah market, Mahabir bazaar, and Palika bazaar areas would now be shifted under the flyover.

Space would be allotted by draw of lots, the Mayor added. The MC had recently launched the anti-encroachment drive in the city’s markets. During the anti-encroachment drive, not just encroachments by shopkeepers, but also by ‘rehri’ owners were found in the market. These ‘rehriwalas’ sold their goods outside shops, and some even paid hefty rent to shopkeepers for the same. Since these emerged as one of the reasons behind the frequent traffic jams in the markets, the MC removed all these ‘rehris’.

Following this, City MLA Pramod Vij made a plan to shift ‘rehris’ from roadsides and markets.

“The city’s traffic problem can only be resolved after shifting these ‘rehris’ from main roads. However, ‘rehri’ owners earn their livelihoods from these, which is why it is imperative to allot a proper place for them to work,” he said.

Six markets would be developed under the railway overbridges (ROBs) on Assandh Road, Jatal Road and Gohana Road, Vij added, stating that another market for around 400 vegetable sellers was being developed under the Quilla.

MC Commissioner Pankaj Yadav said the ‘rehri’ markets would be developed in a phased manner.

A rehri market would be developed in the Old Industrial area, he added.

In the first phase, a market would be developed in the Sabji Mandi; in the second, six would be set up under the ROBs, and, in the third, markets would be established on Haryana Shahri Vikas Pradhikaran land, the Commissioner said.