Anjaneya Tewari, Chandigarh : Despite the high number of penalties issued across residential sectors, the civic body faced criticism for its conspicuous failure to clear illegal vendors from Chandigarh’s premier tourist destination—the Rock Garden. Currently, more than 40 unauthorized vendors completely occupy the pavements and approaches outside the venue. With the site attracting nearly 5,000 national and international tourists daily, the unmanaged street vending has created significant congestion and accumulated litter, degrading the aesthetic value of the iconic heritage site.
“We came here under the impression that Chandigarh would be spotlessly clean with absolutely zero encroachments, especially at major tourist attractions,” said Ajay Singh, a visitor traveling from Madhya Pradesh. “But seeing the chaotic state outside the Rock Garden, the situation looks no different than what we see back home in Bhopal.” While MCC officials reiterated that anti-encroachment drives are a continuous process, local visitors and residents have urged the administration to prioritize high-footfall tourist zones to protect the City Beautiful’s clean and well-planned image.
Continuing its sustained enforcement campaign to maintain public order and ensure the smooth movement of pedestrians and vehicular traffic, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh (MCC) conducted a special city-wide drive against unauthorized street vending today.
Enforcement Sweep Across Sectors
The municipal enforcement teams carried out intensive, coordinated operations targeting several major commercial and residential hubs, including Sectors 11, 12, 19, 22, 37, 40, 41, and Manimajra (including Sector 13). During the day-long exercise, strict action was initiated against vendors operating without valid municipal licenses and individuals encroaching upon public spaces in violation of the Street Vendors Act and civic regulations.
By the end of the operation, the enforcement wing had logged a total of 115 challans and seized unauthorized goods. The drive was aimed at clearing choked roads, market corridors, and public pavements to enforce statutory compliance with civic norms.
While MCC officials reiterated that anti-encroachment drives are a continuous process, local visitors and residents have urged the administration to prioritize high-footfall tourist zones to protect the City Beautiful’s clean and well-planned image.
