Ghumar Mandi shopkeepers oppose no-vehicle zone timings

Nikhil Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana October 15

On the first day of implementing the ‘no-vehicle zone’ formula on trial basis in five city markets ahead of Karva Chauth, shopkeepers of Ghumar Mandi didn’t let the police to implement it in their market.

More than 20 shopkeepers gathered at Ghumar Mandi Chowk, demanding rollback of the decision.

They said making the Ghumar Mandi stretch a no-vehicle zone would decrease the footfall of customers and hit sales.

This morning, when the traffic police put up barricades, stopping the entry of vehicles in the market, shopkeepers gathered and held a protest.

They also jammed a road for a few minutes and later their delegation met Police Commissioner Rakesh Agrawal.

ACP (Traffic) Gurdev Singh said he arranged meeting of shopkeepers with the Commissioner of Police, who agreed to the demand.

“Now, instead of full day no vehicle zone at Ghumar Mandi, vehicle entry from 11 am to 6 pm will be allowed after which it will be stopped,” ACP Gurdev added.

The ACP said at four other places — Girja Ghar Chowk to Police Division 3 chowk, Kips Market, Urban Estate Dugri Phase-1 and Gol Market, Jamalpur — no-vehicle zone formula would be implemented till Karva Chauth. 

“Today, no such problem or protest was seen at these places by shopkeepers. Rather they welcomed the decision of the city police” he added. 

“The Ghumar Mandi stretch witnesses huge traffic during the festival season. During peak hours, there is bumper-to-bumper traffic at the stretch from Ghumar Mandi Chowk to Aarti Chowk. The no-vehicle zone formula is not bad, but some shopkeepers deliberately raised the issue to scuttle the initiative,” ACP Gurdev said. 

Shopkeepers alleged that without providing additional parking space to customers near the Ghumar Mandi market, it is not possible to make it no-vehicle zone. 

Customers don’t entering the market as most of them come from faraway places and usually like to visit markets that are more convenient.