Panchkula, Sept. 25 — Weekly kisan mandis in Panchkula’s Sector 14 and Sector 15 have become a major source of traffic congestion, safety hazards, and public inconvenience, residents and commuters say.
Poor regulation and weak enforcement at these makeshift markets have allowed widespread traffic violations and obstruction of public spaces, forcing vehicles and pedestrians to navigate narrow and unsafe passages. “I have repeatedly written to the authorities about this menace, but no action has been taken,” said SK Nayar, a senior citizen from Sector 15. He added that the situation worsens on Tuesdays and Saturdays, when the mandis choke traffic on the main road.
The problem stems from the location of the markets, often adjacent to major roads. Service lanes, footpaths, and even parts of the main carriageway are encroached upon by illegally parked vehicles. Vendors, originally permitted to sell farm produce, have expanded their stalls to include utensils, electronics, clothes, footwear, and other goods, often occupying pedestrian pathways.
The Municipal Corporation collects ₹100 from each vendor for their spot but provides no systematic management, safety oversight, or infrastructure support in return. The lack of proper planning has left the markets vulnerable to problems such as unsanitary conditions during rains, which turn the area into muddy, unsafe patches.
Adding to the concerns, some vendors use coloured lights to enhance the appearance of fruits and vegetables, despite a Punjab and Haryana High Court ban allowing only white lights. Nayar urged authorities to enforce the ruling and also prohibit flashy umbrellas, which further obstruct the narrow spaces.
Since their inception in 2005-06, these mandis have remained temporary and unplanned, evolving from simple farm produce markets into sprawling, traffic-clogging bazaars, much to the frustration of residents and commuters alike.
