City-based civil society group backs Patiala MC move on clearing roadside vends

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 13

A day after two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders of the city came face to face after the Municipal Corporation of Patiala launched a drive to clear roadside vends, kiosks and carts from crowded areas, a city-based civil society group has backed the move of the civic authorities.

Patiala Foundation, through its road safety initiative SADAK, applauded the steps taken by the MC to resolve the problem of encroachments on footpaths, walkways and parking areas by hawkers and food carts along Bhupindra Road.

Patiala Foundation CEO Ravee Singh Ahluwalia, who organised heritage walks in the city, said for the past 18 months, the foundation had been consistently bringing up the issue in the meetings of the District Road Safety Committee, along with highlighting it on various public platforms, to shed light on the inconvenience being faced by pedestrians and commuters.

Notably, the parking areas were being occupied by food carts and vendors, thus forcing visitors to park their vehicles on road.

As a result, it not only caused traffic jams but also endangered pedestrians by forcing them to walk on the road.