Municipal Corporation clears encroachments onVerka Road

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 24

As many as 250 encroachments by shopkeepers on Verka Road were removed by the Municipal Corporation in an anti-encroachment drive launched here today. Many corporation officials along with the police force were involved in the drive from early morning, which went on for almost six hours.

The encroachments include raised platforms and extended sheds of shops. Officials managed to clear the way for vehicular traffic from Verka Chowk till Moodal village. The stretch had been facing traffic congestion due to encroachments.

Head of the MC’s Anti-Encroachment Committee, Anil Arora said, “The problem of traffic congestion will be solved with the removal of these encroachments.” He said the drive was completed peaceful as no stiff opposition was posed by any of the shopkeepers.

The MC has been continuing anti-encroachment drive for the past three days. During the first two days, officials had removed encroachments near Bhagatawala and Bhandari Bridge apart from other areas. Arora said next schedule of the drive would be chalked out soon to remove encroachments.

The city is facing a huge problem of encroachments especially alongside roads, which often lead to traffic jams. Shopkeepers in the city seem to have developed the tendency to use footpaths and portions of road in front of their shops for stacking merchandise.

Some businessmen have even constructed sheds on roads to extend their shops. Footpaths are hardly visible as goods are stacked at these places forcing commuters to walk on roads.

A few residents opined that a anti-encroachment drive should be launched at a large scale. It should cover the entire city, they added. “The usage of public land meant for traffic for private purpose should not be allowed. If all encroachments along roadsides are removed and haphazard parking is checked, the problem of traffic snarls can be solved to a great extent,” said Jatinder Singh, a retired school Principal.