Chandigarh: Mounting traffic congestion, rising law and order concerns, unresolved Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) issues and pressure from unchecked peripheral growth emerged as key concerns during an interaction between Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria and residents’ representatives Sunday.At a meeting convened by the Federation of Sector Welfare Associations of Chandigarh (Foswac), residents raised a host of civic and governance issues, ranging from inadequate parking and public transport to deteriorating roads, waterlogging and maintenance of neighbourhood parks.Senior UT officials, including home secretary Mandeep Singh Brar, deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh Housing Board CEO D Kartikeyan, municipal commissioner Amit Kumar and SSP Kanwardeep Kaur, were present at the meeting.Foswac representatives said Chandigarh was facing growing traffic and parking stress and called for measures to improve public transport and ease congestion. They also flagged delays in payments to resident welfare associations maintaining parks, annual renewal requirements for MoUs, restricted access to community centres and the lack of responses to representations submitted to the administration and the Municipal Corporation.Members also expressed concern over unplanned development in the city’s periphery, saying it was putting tremendous pressure on Chandigarh’s infrastructure and altering its character. They sought a comprehensive policy to tackle the resulting traffic burden and preserve the city’s original planning ethos.Law and order was another major issue, with residents citing incidents of shootings, murders, snatchings and thefts. On paid parking, Foswac suggested that fees be collected at exit points instead of entry gates to prevent vehicle queues on main roads.Addressing the gathering, Kataria acknowledged the concerns raised and assured residents that the administration would examine them closely. “I have taken note of the various grievances, particularly those relating to Chandigarh Housing Board residents,” he said.The governor said CHB-related issues would be examined category-wise and addressed systematically. On water supply, he assured residents that efforts would be made to ensure adequate water pressure during designated hours while noting that uninterrupted 24-hour supply was not feasible at present.Appreciating Foswac’s role in highlighting citizens’ concerns, Kataria said such interactions help the administration understand grassroots issues and take corrective measures. “Most of the issues raised here will be addressed in the coming days,” he assured.Deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said action on property-related notices was being expedited and mutations after registration were being completed within seven days. He added that joint teams of the Estate Office and municipal corporation were continuing drives against encroachments.SSP Kanwardeep Kaur said special teams were being deployed against drug peddlers and that online police platforms were helping residents access services and lodge complaints. She said snatchers and mobile phone thieves were under surveillance.Home secretary Mandeep Singh Brar urged residents to make greater use of Chandigarh’s air-conditioned bus service to reduce congestion and said action was being taken against unauthorised vendors.Foswac flags power bills, CHB issuesFoswac chairman Baljinder Singh Bittu said residents continued to face problems including excessive electricity bills, delays in FIR registration, waterlogging and encroachments. He demanded restoration of bi-monthly power billing and highlighted the long-pending issue of need-based changes in over 60,000 CHB dwelling units. Bittu also raised concerns over stray dogs, monkey menace, poor road conditions and inadequate road carpeting. He said these issues were causing significant hardship to residents and needed urgent attention.
