Civic body continues to ignore encroachments on Rani Jhansi Road

Two days ago, an ex-serviceman was allegedly beaten up severely for setting up a stall in the Machhiwara area. In contrast, in Ludhiana, the authorities appear to be looking the other way as encroachments continue to mushroom across the city.

Particularly on the stretch from Ghumar Mandi Chowk to Fountain Chowk on Rani Jhansi Road, nearly 60 to 70 rehris have allegedly come up illegally on both sides of the road.

The Tehbazari wing appears to be in a deep slumber, despite the fact that the encroachments not only violate the norms but also trigger massive traffic jams, especially during weekends.

From Ghumar Mandi Chowk to Fountain Chowk, rehris line both sides of the main Rani Jhansi Road, which is one of the posh localities of the city. Vendors selling fruits, snacks and other items can be seen doing a brisk business during evening hours. Residents allege that law-enforcing agencies have turned a blind eye to such illegal stalls for reasons best known to them.

Pooja, a resident, who passes through the stretch many times a day as her house is located on the same road, said encroachments were increasing with each passing day. “Earlier, there were barely five or six rehris. Now, the number has crossed 60. These cause severe traffic jams on the road as food lovers prefer sitting in their vehicles and have food while placing orders. Vehicles remain parked haphazardly, cause immense inconvenience to the public,” she rued.

Another resident complained that not only rehri vendors but also many showrooms that have mushroomed over the past few years have encroached upon government space by displaying goods outside their premises. “The authorities never seem to notice the violations,” the resident added.

Residents further complained that many vendors leave garbage and food leftovers by the roadside after winding up for the day, leaving the area filthy and unhygienic.

Why MC fails to act regularly, say residents

It appears that the MC, which is responsible for taking action against illegal vendors, has virtually given up. Naresh Kumar, in-charge of the Tehbazari wing, said the problem persisted across the country.

“We regularly remove encroachments and penalise vendors. They assure us that they will not return but within no time they appear at same spots. We lift their rehris and confiscate material but they return after paying penalties. The issue will be continued till the creation of designated vending zones for them,” he said.

At the same time, the residents question why the authorities swiftly clear the entire stretch whenever there is a VVIP movement, making roads appear wider and congestion-free for the day, but fail to do the same during routine days.