Civic inaction and encroachments worsen traffic chaos in Phagwara
Mounting illegal encroachments coupled with weak traffic police deployment have pushed the civic infrastructure of Phagwara to a breaking point, leaving pedestrians and commuters to bear the brunt of worsening chaos in the city’s congested bazaars and arterial roads. With no visible enforcement by teams of the Municipal Corporation Phagwara, the situation in several busy market areas has deteriorated sharply.
A visit to the city’s main bazaars revealed that a large number of shopkeepers have extended their establishments up to the middle of narrow roads, drastically shrinking the already limited pedestrian space. Shoppers are forced to squeeze through cramped passages, often competing with moving vehicles for right of way. The problem is particularly acute in Bansan Wala Bazaar, where tractor-trolleys and heavy four-wheelers were seen entering narrow lanes, triggering traffic snarls even on Sundays. Similar scenes were witnessed on Sarai Road, Gaushala Bazaar, Katehra Bazaar, Railway Road, Mandi Road and in the Central Town area, where scooter riders and pedestrians struggled to cross congested stretches, expressing helplessness amid the disorder.
Owing to absence of traffic police at crucial points, traffic mismanagement has also surfaced at key intersections such as Rest House Chowk and Hoshiarpur Road Chowk, where heated exchanges between bus drivers and auto-rickshaw operators over picking up passengers have become a recurring feature. Despite the deployment of a few traffic policemen at sensitive points including Hargobind Nagar Chowk, Gandhi Chowk, Railway Road, Goal Chowk and near the bus stand, commuters allege that enforcement remains weak and inconsistent. Several instances were reported where vehicles were briefly stopped and later allowed to proceed, raising allegations of corrupt practices.
Although certain arrangements have been made to regulate traffic on the GT Road, residents maintain that these measures have failed to provide any meaningful relief. Observers attribute the worsening conditions largely to a lack of coordination between the civic authorities and the police administration. Adding to the complexity of the problem is the practice adopted by some shopkeepers who allow roadside vendors to set up temporary stalls in front of their shops in exchange for hefty monthly or daily payments. This has further narrowed road space and compounded congestion. Critics allege that the Municipal Corporation staff has largely remained a silent spectator, failing to initiate sustained action against such encroachments.
Repeated attempts to contact senior civic officials, including newly appointed Municipal Commissioner Shikha Bhagat, did not elicit any response. However, Phagwara Superintendent of Police Madhvi Sharma stated that a large-scale and impartial campaign has been launched to remove illegal encroachments across the corporation city. She warned residents and shopkeepers against extending constructions onto public land, cautioning that failure to comply would invite strict legal action.
Subsequently, SP Madhvi Sharma, accompanied by traffic personnel including Traffic Inspector Aman Kumar Daveshwar, was seen supervising enforcement drives in various parts of the town. She also convened meetings with traders and shopkeepers, urging them to voluntarily remove encroachments in the larger public interest and to cooperate with authorities in restoring order. However, despite her visible efforts, the SP appeared constrained by the lack of action by the Municipal Corporation teams. In several commercial areas, passageways meant for pedestrians were found encroached upon by SCF and SCO owners, some of whom have reportedly constructed basements beneath the encroached spaces. SP Madhvi Sharma told The Tribune that she had repeatedly written to the Municipal Corporation authorities, urging them to initiate concrete action to remove illegal encroachments and positively a joint drive will be launched by police and administration.
As Phagwara continues to grapple with rapid commercial expansion and rising vehicular pressure, residents hope that sustained coordination between the civic body and the police administration will lead to permanent solutions rather than sporadic crackdowns, ensuring safer and smoother movement for pedestrians and commuters alike.
