Commercial activity in Mohali's Phase 3B2 local market ground to a halt for several hours on Thursday as frustrated shopkeepers closed their establishments and staged a vigorous protest. The demonstration was directed against what they termed as government and municipal corporation inaction regarding the proliferation of unauthorised street vendors in the busy market area.
Market Brought to a Standstill
The protest, spearheaded by market president Akvinder Singh Gosal, saw shopkeepers voicing their long-standing grievances. Their primary complaint centred on illegal vendors allegedly occupying crucial parking spaces and erecting stalls directly outside established showrooms. This, they argued, was causing significant inconvenience to customers and inflicting direct harm on their legitimate businesses.
"These vendors are encroaching on designated parking areas and physically blocking shop entrances," Gosal stated while addressing the gathered crowd. He further alleged that repeated objections from shop owners often led to heated arguments and even physical altercations, creating an atmosphere of tension. The traders claimed that despite numerous complaints to the concerned authorities, no concrete action had been taken to resolve the issue, forcing them to resort to the shutdown.
Authorities Intervene with Assurances
The tense situation began to de-escalate after Vineet Verma, a member of the Punjab State Traders' Commission, arrived at the protest site. Engaging with the demonstrators, Verma took immediate steps by contacting MC assistant commissioner Manpreet Singh. He directed the municipal officials to take prompt and decisive action against the unauthorised vendors operating in the Phase 3B2 market.
Verma provided assurances to the aggrieved traders, emphasising that their concerns were being taken seriously. He stated that encroachments should not be allowed to disrupt normal market functioning or jeopardise the livelihoods of legitimate shopkeepers. "The commission is committed to resolving traders' issues within the legal framework," Verma affirmed, offering a promise of institutional support.
Path Forward and Trader Demands
Following the intervention and assurances, the shopkeepers called off their protest and resumed business operations. The incident has highlighted the ongoing conflict between registered shop owners and street vendors in urban commercial spaces, a common issue in many Indian cities. The traders are now awaiting visible and sustained action from the Mohali Municipal Corporation to clear the encroachments and regulate vending activities as per the law.
The protest underscores the need for a balanced and enforceable policy that protects the rights of both established businesses and street vendors while ensuring public spaces like parking areas and footpaths remain accessible. All eyes are now on the local administration to implement the promised measures and prevent a recurrence of such disruptive protests.
