Jalandhar residents raise concerns over installation of gates in ‘posh’ localities

Residents of Model Town and Urban Estate Phase II, two posh localities in Jalandhar, have expressed strong opposition to the installation of iron gates on public roads, citing violations of Municipal Corporation (MC) bylaws. These gates, installed last week, have sparked concerns among locals who see them as illegal encroachments that disrupt traffic and violate regulations.

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Leading the protest is Tejasvi Minhas of Model Town, who has already submitted complaints to the Municipal Corporation Jalandhar (MCJ) and Division Number 6 police in this regard. However, despite these complaints, no action has been taken so far.

Minhas reported that two gates have been erected on the road connecting Geeta Mandir to Johal Market — a route used by hundreds of residents daily. The gates are located near Geeta Mandir and Sanjha Chulha in Johal Market, both key points on the thoroughfare.

Minhas emphasised that this was not the first incident as previously, gates were illegally installed in the Park Lane locality of Model Town and other parts of Urban Estate Phase II. These cases remain unresolved, with complaints pending with the Municipal Corporation, the Punjab Human Rights Commission and the Lokpal.

The residents argue that the installation of these gates violates municipal bylaws, which requires permission from the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) and police verification before any such structure is erected. They also point to a ruling of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which mandates that any legally installed gates must be closed between 11 pm and 5 am, with a security guard present at all times to handle emergencies.

“The unauthorised gates obstruct the road and cause inconvenience to the public, infringing upon their rights,” Minhas stated. He added that such actions set a dangerous precedent that could lead to more encroachments in public spaces. The residents are urging the civic body authorities to remove the gates at the earliest.