Needed in Chandigarh Sector 17: More dustbins, more cleanliness

The Municipal Corporation had sprung into action to demolish some of the public passages connecting the buildings after they were termed hazardous by the Adviser in the wake of a fire accident in one of the buildings.

In Sector 17, Chandigarh. Express

Among the first areas that UT Adviser Vijay Kumar Dev visited was the heart of the city, Sector 17, where he emphasised the need for upgradation. But so far, scarce upgradation is visible.

The Municipal Corporation had sprung into action to demolish some of the public passages connecting the buildings after they were termed hazardous by the Adviser in the wake of a fire accident in one of the buildings. However, the renovation work was left midway. Some of the passages were demolished, but left unattended while others continue to fight vagaries of the weather, posing a potential risk to the visitors.

The passages were built, so that visitors could easily go from one end of the market to the other even during rain. However, with some of the passages pulled down, the purpose for which they were built has been defeated.

Story continues below this ad

Despite the hullabaloo surrounding the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan which led the city officials to go on a cleanliness spree in the city, the tall grass growing in some corners of the plaza and lack of proper cleanliness tell a different tale.

While dustbins have been placed in some more areas in the plaza, visitors say that there is a need to place more dustbins.

“There is ambiguity in terms of areas of function of the Municipal Corporation and UT Administration, as some decisions taken during the Adviser visit are yet to see the light of day. The idea to ensure uniform colour and size of boards outside all the showrooms and shops to give a pleasant look to the market remains on paper only. We have written several letters to officials, but to no effect,” said Subhash Kataria, a local trader.

Encroachments in corridors continue to remain a ticklish issue. The area surrounding the Post Office is not adequately lit in the evenings. The visitors and shopkeepers are looking forward to the opening of the multi-level parking.

Story continues below this ad

“The officials have assured that the multi-level parking will be opened in the first week of December. This is the most urgent need due to the large number of vehicles entering the area and the space crunch. The entry to some shops is also blocked due to this,” said Rajinder Manocha, another trader.

Asserting that it is the biggest commercial area which speaks of the history of the city, J P S Kalra, general secretary, Traders’ Association, Sector 17, notes that nothing much has changed in recent months in terms of upgradation of the plaza. “There is a need for timely meetings of officials with stakeholders, so that decisions taken can be executed well on time,” he said.

Asked about the stalled renovation of corridors, MC Commissioner Bhawna Garg said, “We will repair it and will complete the work soon. This is a festive season, and we want to give a facelift to the plaza to give it a festive look ahead of Diwali celebrations. We will put up dustbins before Diwali.”

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram