— In a major step aimed at improving traffic management, reducing congestion and strengthening road safety, the Yamunanagar Municipal Corporation has decided to declare the city’s major chowks as non-vending zones and shift around 125 roadside vendors operating between Kanhaiya Sahib Chowk and Jagadhri Bus Stand to the designated Manohar Vending Zone.
The decisions were taken during a meeting of the Town Vending Committee, chaired by Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mahabir Prasad. Representatives of the traffic police, various government departments and other concerned institutions also participated in the meeting.
The Municipal Corporation said the initiative is intended to address traffic bottlenecks caused by roadside vending at busy intersections and along important roads while also providing street vendors with an organised and designated place to conduct their business.
Under the first major decision, all prominent chowks in the city will be declared non-vending zones. This means street carts and roadside vending stalls will no longer be permitted around major intersections.
According to the Municipal Corporation, carts currently operating near these chowks will be removed and shifted in accordance with the proposed vending arrangements.
Officials said that roadside carts and temporary stalls at busy intersections often obstruct the movement of vehicles and pedestrians, leading to traffic congestion and increasing road safety concerns. The new arrangement is expected to improve visibility at junctions, facilitate smoother traffic movement and reduce the possibility of congestion around major chowks.
The second major decision concerns approximately 125 street vendors operating along the road from Kanhaiya Sahib Chowk to Jagadhri Bus Stand.
A list of vendors operating on this route has already been prepared. These vendors will be shifted to the Manohar Vending Zone, where they will be allotted designated booths.
According to Additional Municipal Commissioner Dheeraj Kumar, the booth allotment process will be carried out through a draw scheduled for September 2 at the Manohar Vending Zone itself.
The Municipal Corporation plans to complete essential arrangements at the vending zone before the vendors are shifted. Facilities including electricity, water supply and sanitation are expected to be put in place to ensure that the relocated vendors have access to basic infrastructure for running their businesses.
Officials believe that the relocation will create a more organised environment for street vendors while simultaneously freeing major roads and intersections from congestion caused by unplanned roadside vending.
Municipal Commissioner Mahabir Prasad said the purpose of the initiative is not to remove vendors from their livelihood but to provide them with an organised and properly designated space.
He said that carts and roadside vending stalls located at major intersections and along important roads often disrupt traffic movement and contribute to traffic jams at several locations.
“To streamline the city’s traffic system and provide organised spaces to street vendors, major chowks are being declared non-vending zones,” the Municipal Commissioner said.
He added that vendors operating along roadsides will be shifted to designated vending zones so that both public convenience and the interests of street vendors can be balanced.
The Municipal Corporation’s approach, according to officials, is based on creating a structured system where vendors can continue their commercial activities without creating unnecessary obstruction on busy public roads.
The decision is also expected to improve compliance with road safety norms. With roadside vending restricted around major intersections, authorities expect better traffic visibility and easier movement for emergency and public service vehicles.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Dheeraj Kumar said that the list of approximately 125 vendors operating between Kanhaiya Sahib Chowk and Jagadhri Bus Stand has been prepared for the first phase of the relocation process.
The vendors will be allotted booths through a draw on September 2 at the Manohar Vending Zone. Each eligible vendor will receive a designated booth number under the planned allotment system.
Before the allotment and relocation process is completed, the Municipal Corporation intends to ensure that the necessary facilities are available at the vending zone.
Once the booths are allotted, vendors will be encouraged to operate only from the designated vending zone and avoid setting up carts along roadsides or around major chowks.
Officials said that the success of the initiative will depend on cooperation between the Municipal Corporation, traffic police, street vendors and other stakeholders.
The meeting also focused on the broader objective of improving the overall civic and traffic environment in Yamunanagar. Unregulated roadside vending, particularly near busy intersections, can create difficulties not only for motorists but also for pedestrians and local residents.
By shifting vendors to a planned vending zone, the Municipal Corporation aims to create a system where commercial activity can continue in an organised manner while public roads remain accessible and safer.
The Manohar Vending Zone is expected to provide a centralised location where vendors can conduct business with access to basic civic facilities.
The Town Vending Committee meeting was attended by Assistant Engineer Muneshwar Bhardwaj, Chief Sanitary Inspector Vinod Beniwal, TFI Gopal Bakshi, Subhash Chand, Narendra Kumar, Bablu Yadav, Dr. Vagish Guten, Akshay, Ajinder Pal Singh and Sonu Devi, among others.
With the September 2 draw now scheduled, the Municipal Corporation is expected to begin implementing the relocation process in the coming days. The move represents an important effort to balance the livelihood needs of street vendors with the growing requirement for better traffic management, road safety and planned urban spaces in Yamunanagar.
The Municipal Corporation has appealed to street vendors to cooperate with the new system and conduct their business from the designated vending zone once booths are allotted.
The initiative is expected to bring a more organised vending system to the city while helping reduce traffic congestion at major chowks and along key roads, creating a safer and more convenient environment for vendors, commuters and residents alike.
