Residents of the Tricity area have voiced strong objections to the daytime police barricades set up on major inner-city roads, calling them more of a hindrance than a security measure. The barricades, introduced after a series of gangster-related shootings, are now creating chokepoints and severe traffic snarls, particularly near markets and busy intersections.
Residents Demand Removal of Inner-City Barricades
Hitesh Puri, head of the Chandigarh Residents Welfare Association Federation (CRAWFED), stated that the federation has repeatedly requested the police and administration to restrict nakas to the nine border points of the city. "We have repeatedly requested the police and administration that nakas are required at nine border points of the city, but not inside the city. CCTVs may be used effectively to monitor traffic on city roads," Puri said. He emphasized that inner-city barricades are unnecessary and cause undue inconvenience to daily commuters.
Mohali resident Ashish Kapila, who commutes daily to Sector 17, described the frustration of being stuck in traffic at 9:30 am on his way to work. "It doesn’t help when you are stuck in traffic at 9.30 am on way to office. The cops are just watching road users honking and waiting for their turn to get past on one such chokepoint on the road separating Sectors 33 and 34," Kapila said.
Lack of Purpose and Unattended Barricades
Many road users question the effectiveness of the checks. Nilesh Sharma, a Sector 22 resident who faces a naka in Sector 35 daily, noted that police rarely ask for licenses or vehicle documents. "Neither do they ask for licence or documents of the vehicle, nor do they scan the antecedents of vehicle occupants or the vehicle itself for suspicious objects," Sharma said. This lack of thorough checking leads residents to believe the barricades are merely a show of force rather than a genuine security measure.
Another major complaint is that police often leave barricades unattended after their shifts end. Yukti Verma, a Sector 7 resident, warned of safety hazards. "Barricades remain unattended well past 9 am, standing as a hurdle in the middle of the road. At night, somebody may bang into them as many a times there are no reflectors," Verma said. The barricade near the Chandigarh-Zirakpur border at a CRPF picket is frequently cited as a prime example of this neglect.
Problematic Locations and Weekend Observations
The newly installed barricades in the middle of Sector 17, Sector 22, and the Sectors 51-52 light point have become particularly problematic. While all barricaded roads in the southern part of the city are manned by police on Sunday afternoons, residents stress that the worst congestion occurs on weekdays during office hours.
Police Response: Open to Review
Chandigarh Inspector General of Police Pushpendra Kumar defended the nakas as non-intrusive and essential for security. However, he expressed openness to a review if they cause significant inconvenience. "We have not received any such complaint so far. If it comes to our notice, the police will take steps to resolve the issue," Kumar said when asked about congestion near Sector 17, 22, 29, and 34 markets.
Kumar explained that the nakas are intended to check criminals fleeing after incidents and to maintain general security. When questioned about the necessity of daily nakas following events like the grenade attack on the BJP office and shootings, he replied, "Nakas have been laid to curb such incidents only. What is the point of doing it after an incident has taken place?" He added that there is no fixed timeline for the nakas, and the police review the situation periodically to adjust their approach.
