MC Phagwara clears encroachments in Hargobind Nagar to ease traffic

Responding to public complaints over traffic congestion and pedestrian obstruction, the Municipal Corporation Phagwara conducted an encroachment removal drive in Hargobind Nagar on Friday. The action was taken under the supervision of Municipal Commissioner Dr Akshita Gupta (IAS), with support from Inspector Sewak Ram, in charge of the enforcement team and cooperation from local stakeholders.

The area had long suffered from illegal roadside encroachments, which narrowed carriageway space and caused frequent traffic bottlenecks—especially during peak hours. Unauthorised structures and display of goods on public land had also compromised the safety of pedestrians, particularly children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Acting on these concerns, the Municipal Corporation issued prior notices and followed due process before clearing the encroached areas to restore safe pedestrian and vehicular movement.

Dr Akshita Gupta said the drive aligns with the Corporation’s broader goal of ensuring orderly urban spaces, smooth traffic flow, and safe pedestrian access. She also announced that yellow line markings will soon be implemented to clearly demarcate no-encroachment zones in Hargobind Nagar and other high-density areas to prevent re-encroachment.

Mayor Rampal Uppal lauded the timely action and emphasised that maintaining public pathways and traffic discipline is crucial for a growing city. He reaffirmed the MC’s commitment to the equitable use of public infrastructure and urged shopkeepers and vendors to cooperate by keeping road margins and footpaths clear.

Both the Commissioner and the Mayor appealed to residents and commercial establishments to support the initiative and help make Phagwara cleaner, safer and better organised. The Municipal Corporation will continue enforcement and awareness drives in other localities in the coming weeks.