PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Doon Valley Mahanagar Udyog Vyapar Mandal (DVMUVM) plans to approach district magistrate Savin Bansal for the appointment of a special team of police personnel at Paltan Bazaar regarding the restrictions on four-wheelers and street vendors. Paltan Bazaar is considered the main market of the city. However, over time, traffic congestion in Paltan Bazaar has increased significantly, raising concerns among many shoppers. The shoppers state that restricting the entry of four-wheelers in the market is necessary to alleviate traffic congestion, along with reducing issues related to overcrowding, theft and other related problems.
It is important to note that during Deepawali this year, authorities successfully banned the entry of both four-wheelers and three-wheelers in the market, which greatly reduced traffic congestion during that period. Given the success of this temporary ban, the president of DVMUVM, Pankaj Masson, had planned earlier to approach the district administration once again to request a permanent restriction on such vehicles in the market area. However, as of now, no noticeable changes have been observed in the market regarding this issue.
Shopper Mohini Bisht said that the increased traffic congestion in Paltan Bazaar has made it challenging to shop freely. The entry of four-wheelers into the market area has contributed to this traffic congestion, which has also heightened the risk of theft. She suggested that, in light of safety concerns and the ongoing traffic issues, the authorities should permanently ban the entry of four-wheelers in the market area.
“I am a frequent shopper in this bazaar. Over time, I have noticed that traffic has increased significantly. Considering this, I have started shopping at malls and other stores for essential items instead of visiting the market, where I face challenges due to traffic caused by the entry of four-wheelers. The authorities should take this matter seriously,” said another shopper Sanjeev Chaturvedi.
“It is true that traffic in Paltan Bazaar has surged. Street vendors, along with the entry of four-wheelers, are the main reasons for the increased congestion in the market. Instead of temporary solutions, a permanent solution is essential,” said Masson.
He added that they have approached the district administration several times about this issue. To address the traffic congestion permanently, they plan to write a letter to the DM in the next two to three days, requesting a dedicated police team for Paltan Bazaar to enforce restrictions on four-wheelers and remove street vendors, which are significant contributors to the traffic problem. According to him, implementing this solution is crucial, as the increased traffic can also raise the likelihood of theft and other disturbances.
