Encroachers openly flout ‘no vending zone’ restrictions in Mohali

Municipal Assistant Commissioner says next time, sites will be allotted behind the footpath to keep traffic clear. After that, anyone vending in a 'no vending zone' will be removed

Written by Jasbir Malhi

Mohali | September 22, 2025 11:38 AM IST

3 min read

Encroached 'no vending zones' in Phases 7 and 4 in Mohali. (Express Photo: Jasbir Malhi)

Despite the Mohali Municipal Corporation (MC) declaring the entire stretch from Phase 11 to Max Hospital a “no vending zone”, street vendors and shopkeepers from phase 6 to phase 11 (Sector 56 to 65) have set up illegal encroachments right under the boards, prohibiting encroachments.

In the Phase 7 main parking, a coconut seller has not only occupied a portion of the footpath, but also extended well beyond his allotted 20×20 ft space. He has piled up heaps of discarded coconuts in the parking lot, parked handcarts, and even erected a tent beneath the “no vending zone” board.

Criticising the Municipal Corporation, former councillor Paramjit Singh Kahlon said, “How can a civic body violate its own rules for the sake of a few rupees? Who will be responsible if an accident happens because vehicles are forced to stop on the main road? The corporation earmarks sites, and then its staff take money and allow encroachments. Strict action must be taken against such officials.”

Encroachments cause frequent traffic jams and make roads accident-prone as customers stop their vehicles on the roadside to drink coconut water and eat something from roadside venders, and buy flowers and discard shells and plates on the street. The problem is exacerbated by the presence of key government offices nearby, including the NRI Wing and other police departments, which attract a high volume of footfall.

Similarly, outside Bougainvillea Park in Phase 4, many food stalls are set up, and by afternoon the area becomes so crowded that people park their cars on the road, causing a complete traffic jam.

A person who sets up a stall there, once went to the Municipal Corporation office and created a ruckus.

Municipal Assistant Commissioner Manpreet Singh admitted that the vendors have valid contracts. “These contracts were issued months ago and would expire in about a month and a half. Next time, sites will be allotted behind the footpath to keep traffic clear. After that, anyone vending in a ‘no vending zone’ will be removed.”

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Asked about food venders encroaching on the road in Phase 4 and flower sallers in Phase 7, Singh said, “We remove them from time to time, but they return. Fresh action will be taken shortly.”

Ish Kumar, a resident of Phase 4, and Manmohan Singh Sagghu, a resident of Phase 10, sought to know from the corporation “whether no vending zones exist only on paper or in reality as well”.

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