Chandigarh, December 31: In a bid to ensure smooth pedestrian movement and maintain civic order, the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh has intensified its action against unauthorised and illegal street vending across the city.
The Enforcement wing has recorded that a large number of vendors are illegally occupying footpaths, pavements and public passages by placing stalls, rehris and tables, resulting in inconvenience to pedestrians and disruption of public movement. It has further been observed that during enforcement and anti-encroachment drives, some of these vendors create disturbances, obstruct official duties and, at times, resort to abusive behaviour and physical altercations, leading to law and order concerns.
Such illegal vending activities have been found predominantly in Sectors 15, 17, 19, 22, 41 and Manimajra. Despite repeated challans and seizure of vending material by the Enforcement Branch, these vendors continue to resume unauthorised vending, showing disregard for civic regulations.
To address this issue firmly, the Municipal Corporation has directed the Chandigarh Police to register cases against illegal and unauthorised vendors under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, on receipt of complaints from the Municipal Corporation, citizens or otherwise.
At the same time, the Engineering Wing of the Municipal Corporation has been instructed to strengthen civic infrastructure within designated vending zones by ensuring proper lighting, adequate water supply, installation of paver blocks and clear demarcation of vending sites for registered street vendors, enabling lawful and organised vending.
The Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh has appealed to citizens to support this initiative, which aims to enhance civic amenities, ensure public convenience and enforce compliance with municipal laws in the interest of the city.
