at Sector 15 markets, chaos has a free run

Ramkrishan Upadhyay 
Tribune News Service 
Chandigarh, October 21

Shortage of parking space, increasing numbers of vendors in corridors, filthy toilets and encroachments are some of the problems plaguing the Sector 15 markets here.

Situated close to Punjab University, Sector 15-D and 15-C markets have become chaos hub with no proper planning for parking spaces.

Those coming for shopping at markets have no option, but to park their vehicles on roads. Sandeep Kumar Singla, president, Market Welfare Association, Sector 15-D, said parking space opposite the market is occupied by illegal vendors and a large part of the parking area is occupied by rickshaw owners and pullers who stay their day in and day out.

Another trader said parking spaces near to Panjab University were mostly occupied motorcycles being used by food joints. “There is no check on autos in the parking area,” he says. Singla says visitors and students of the university also park their vehicles in the market parking lots because vehicles are not allowed in the campus area. He said the condition of the toilets was also bad. “There is no water taps in the toilets, but the MC fails to find a solution. Trees have not been pruned for several years.”

KC Taneja, president, Market Welfare Association, Sector 15-C, said vendors were increasing by the day in markets, adding further to parking problems in the area. 

Another trader said the MC and the police have turned a blind eye to the encroachments by vendors in the area. Bhupinder Singh Narad, president, Bay Shop Market Welfare Association, said the market had been neglected by the Municipal Corporation completely, with no tab over mushrooming vendors. 

Patel Markets are also facing the similar problems. Sanjiv Kumar, president of the Patel Market, said the market, which was established in 1993, has around 264 booths. He said while the business and customers have increased over time, the infrastructure falls short of meeting their needs. He said vendors left a little space for movement. 

The area residents are also a harried lot as visitors to the market tend to park their vehicles in front of houses. 

Prem Kumar, a resident, said the parking area meant for cars and two-wheelers was being used by vendors illegally. 

Infrastructure at markets falls short  

Patel Market in Sector 15 was established in 1993 and has 264 booths. 

While the business and customers have increased over time, the infrastructure falls short of meeting their needs.

Vendors add to the woes encroaching upon a large part of corridors in the market, leaving little space for movement.

Traderspeak

The market has been neglected by the Municipal Corporation, with no check on the mushrooming number of encroachers. The anti-encroachment teams of the MC have failed to curb the menace. The responsibility of removing encroachments should be given to the Estate Office. — Bhupinder Kumar Narad  

Sector 15 markets are being ignored by the authorities. Parking and encroachments have become major issues. The MC has turned a blind eye to vendors occupying space outside market in the parking area. Some of the streetlights are also lying defunct. — KC Taneja 

One of the oldest markets of the city has been ignored by the MC. The parking opposite the market is occupied by vendors. The parking spaces are also used by PU students, delivery motorcycles of eating joints and autos. — Sandeep Kumar Singla 

The Municipal Corporation should hold a meeting of traders of the markets to chalk out a strategy to solve all problems of the area. In the absence of proper parking and other facilities, traders are losing business. — Pankaj Gupta 

Besides parking and illegal encroachments, beggars in markets are also a major problem. One can see a large number of them roaming in the market. The MC should not allow vendors to occupy the space outside markets. — Vinay Jain