Chandigarh administration removes encroachments in Manimajra before court deadline

The Chandigarh administration has started a stronger campaign against illegal encroachments in Manimajra as officials prepare to submit a report to the Supreme Court. In a major operation, authorities removed unauthorised vendors and cleared blocked public spaces in the crowded markets and narrow lanes of Sector 13, Manimajra.

The drive is part of a larger citywide effort to control illegal street vending and improve movement for both pedestrians and vehicles. Officials said the administration wants to show the court that it is taking strict action against encroachments in different parts of Chandigarh.

The operation took place in busy market areas where roads and footpaths had been occupied for a long time. Residents and shopkeepers had often complained about traffic jams, blocked pathways, safety concerns, and difficulties in daily movement.

After the removal drive, several senior officers visited the area to inspect the situation on the ground. The inspection team included Home Secretary Mandeep Singh Brar, Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwardeep Kaur, and Municipal Corporation Joint Commissioner Himanshu Gupta.

The officials were accompanied by enforcement teams and civic staff during the inspection. They reviewed the cleaned-up areas and checked whether the operation had been carried out properly.

The officers also spoke to field teams and instructed them to continue strict monitoring so that vendors do not return to the same places again.

Officials inspect cleared areas

According to officials, the administration is under pressure to submit an affidavit before the Supreme Court on May 12. In the affidavit, the administration is expected to state that it has brought illegal hawking and encroachments under control in Chandigarh.

The anti-encroachment drive in Manimajra is being seen as an important step before the court submission.

During the inspection, senior officers carefully checked the condition of roads, markets, and nearby lanes. They looked at how much space had been cleared and whether people could now move freely.

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Officials said many stretches had remained heavily crowded because of illegal stalls and roadside vending. In some areas, public pathways were almost completely blocked.

The administration said public roads and footpaths belong to everyone and should remain open for safe movement.

The officials directed enforcement teams to keep strict watch in the area on a daily basis. They warned that no fresh encroachments should be allowed in the reclaimed spaces.

Authorities also said that similar operations will continue in other crowded parts of Chandigarh in the coming days.

The administration believes that regular action is necessary because encroachments often return soon after removal drives end.

Sources said field teams may now carry out surprise inspections and regular patrolling in areas where illegal vending is common.

The administration also wants better coordination between civic officials, police teams, and enforcement staff so that future drives can be carried out more effectively.

Residents in many parts of Chandigarh have been raising concerns about growing encroachments for several years. They say blocked roads and footpaths create traffic problems and increase the risk of accidents.

Shopkeepers in organised markets have also complained that illegal vendors create unfair competition and make the markets overcrowded.

Court pressure increases action

The current action is also linked to directions issued earlier by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The high court had directed the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to remove encroachments from public places and submit a compliance report by May 20.

Because of the court order, the administration has increased the pace of anti-encroachment drives across the city.

Officials said the administration wants to present clear evidence before the courts that serious efforts are being made to solve the problem.

The issue of illegal street vending has remained a major civic challenge in Chandigarh, especially in busy areas such as Manimajra.

Many roads in commercial areas become narrow because of temporary stalls, carts, parked vehicles, and roadside structures. This often affects traffic movement and emergency access.

Pedestrians also face difficulties because footpaths are occupied in several areas, forcing people to walk on roads.

Officials believe that proper regulation of street vending is necessary to maintain order in the city. However, the administration also faces the challenge of balancing enforcement with the livelihood concerns of small vendors.

Street vendors often depend on roadside selling for daily income, and many return after removal drives because they have limited earning options.

Even so, the administration has said that public safety and smooth movement cannot be ignored.

Authorities are expected to continue inspections in markets, residential areas, and busy commercial pockets over the next few weeks.

The administration is also likely to use the results of these drives as part of its report to the Supreme Court and the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Officials said the main goal is to ensure that roads, footpaths, and public spaces remain free from illegal occupation in the long term.

Residents of Manimajra said they noticed some improvement after the latest operation, especially in crowded market lanes where movement had become difficult in recent months.

However, many also said that the real test would be whether the administration can prevent vendors from returning again after a few days.

The Chandigarh administration has now made it clear that enforcement teams will remain active and that strict monitoring will continue in the city’s crowded areas.

With court deadlines approaching, officials are expected to intensify anti-encroachment operations further in the coming days.