Times News NetworkChandigarh: In a bid to check encroachments set up by vendors in the evening and at night, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has extended duty hours of the enforcement department till 10pm. Most municipal councillors supported the move to extend timings during a recent MC house meeting. Duty roster of enforcement inspectors and their respective teams has been revised and enforcement teams have been divided into two parts. A few teams will work from 12pm to 8pm, while others will remain on the field from 5pm till 10pm. “The duty roster has been prepared in such a way that enforcement wing staff get rest. Senior officers of the MC will make surprise visits in the areas to conduct checks in the days to come,” an official said. While the problem of illegal street vendors persists in all major commercial areas of the city, it is worst in commercial areas of sectors 19, 22, 15, Manimajra etc. “Although all these commercial areas of the city have dedicated street vending zones, the problem of illegal vendors persists due to high footfall in markets and their commercial value,” sources in the MC said.Box: Public spaces cleared On Thursday, the civic body conducted an anti-encroachment drive across the city late at night to ensure smooth movement on public roads and footpaths The drive was conducted in sectors 19, 34, 37, 40, 22, Manimajra, IT Park, sectors 17 and 12, besides areas near PGI Gate and Nayagaon Barrier The night operation targeted illegal occupation of V-4 (sector dividing) roads, public footpaths and other public spaces where vendors had left behind their belongings, carts and materials after business hours, obstructing movement Nine sub-inspectors enforcement (SIEs), along with field staff, were deputed to ensure effective implementation of the operation MSID:: 130961486 413 |
