Rohtak gears up for festival footfall, crowd management measures rolled out

After a slowdown over the past couple of months, the city’s main markets are once again bustling with activity as the festive season sets in, particularly ahead of Karwa Chauth. Footfall has surged sharply, with traders anticipating even larger crowds in the coming days.

The district administration has drawn up traffic and crowd-control measures in view of the expected rush. However, heavy congestion continues in key stretches such as Quilla Road, Bhiwani Stand, Old Bus Stand, Pratap Chowk, Jhajjar Road, Railway Road, Delhi Gate, Gohana Adda and Model Town, where traffic jams are being reported regularly.

Pramod Sehgal, a trader at Shouri Cloth Market, shared that the market has seen nearly double the usual number of visitors since the beginning of the festival season.

“The footfall has almost doubled, and we expect it to rise further as Diwali approaches. After that, the wedding season begins, which is another busy period for us. The festive season is the peak time for business, and customers are finally returning in good numbers,” he said.

Bittu Sachdeva, former president of the Quilla Road Traders’ Welfare Association, noted that business usually slows down during the harsh summer and monsoon months.

“People avoid market visits in extreme weather. But now, with the onset of the festive season, footfall is improving. This trend is expected. Traders eagerly wait for this time of year—it’s when we do the most business,” he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta has directed officials to ensure proper traffic, parking, and security arrangements in the city’s main markets during the festive season. He instructed that proper systems be put in place in the markets to ensure that neither customers nor shopkeepers face any inconvenience.

“As in previous years, barricading will be done on the roads leading to the markets to maintain smooth traffic flow. Vehicle entry into key market areas will also be restricted to allow people to move around and shop with ease. Additionally, proper parking arrangements are to be ensured in areas surrounding the markets,” Gupta added.

SP Narendra Bijarniya has ordered closure of unauthorised road cuts on major routes and installation of CCTV cameras in key markets. Additional police personnel will be deployed to check incidents of pickpocketing and snatching during the festive rush.

A meeting of representatives from various market associations was held under the chairmanship of ASP Prateek Agrawal. Shopkeepers were urged to cooperate with the police in maintaining order and were instructed not to encroach upon public spaces. “With traders’ cooperation, better arrangements will be in place, benefiting both customers and shopkeepers alike,” he said.