The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation took significant decisions during its monthly Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) meeting held on Wednesday, with road infrastructure development taking center stage alongside relief measures for vendors and anti-encroachment actions.
Road Widening Project Gets Green Light
The committee approved a crucial proposal for widening the V-6 internal road in Sector 2 at an estimated cost of Rs 29.26 lakh. This infrastructure upgrade aims to enhance carriageway width and ensure smoother, safer vehicular movement for area residents and daily commuters.
The comprehensive scope of work includes multiple phases: earthwork in excavation and carriage, providing and laying granular sub-base, installing wet mix macadam, and finally laying 50 mm bituminous macadam and 30 mm bituminous concrete. After thorough discussion, the F&CC unanimously passed this agenda item, recognizing its potential to significantly improve traffic flow and road safety in the sector.
Vendor Relief and Anti-Encroachment Measures
In a humanitarian gesture, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla announced a one-time relief package for vendors who lost their vending licenses due to non-payment of municipal corporation dues. Addressing the appeals of affected vendors, the mayor provided a final opportunity for defaulters to regularize their outstanding payments within a three-month window.
Vendors who clear their dues within this specified period will have their licenses reinstated, offering them a chance to resume their livelihoods while complying with municipal regulations.
Simultaneously, the MC conducted an anti-encroachment drive in Sadar Bazaar and Palika Bazaar in Sector 19 to clear public spaces and ensure smooth pedestrian movement. Enforcement teams removed multiple temporary encroachments, including illegal extensions and roadside obstructions that were causing inconvenience to pedestrians and affecting the overall aesthetic of the market areas.
Broader Implications for City Development
The decisions taken during Wednesday's F&CC meeting reflect the municipal corporation's balanced approach to urban development. While infrastructure projects like the V-6 road widening demonstrate the commitment to improving city amenities and traffic management, the vendor relief initiative shows sensitivity toward small business operators struggling with regulatory compliance.
The anti-encroachment drive in prominent market areas underscores the administration's determination to maintain public spaces and ensure orderly urban growth. These coordinated efforts aim to create a more organized, safe, and resident-friendly urban environment in Chandigarh.
