Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
The main market of Rudrapur, the headquarters of Udham Singh Nagar district, has become a hub of traffic congestion and illegal encroachments, creating significant problems for both residents and visitors. Traders in the market have occupied footpaths for their own convenience, disregarding the needs of customers and pedestrians.
Many shop owners have displayed their goods on the footpaths, erected banners, and hoardings, and even displayed the goods, leaving little room for pedestrians. Additionally, some traders have rented out remaining spaces to street vendors on a daily-wage basis. The lack of parking facilities in the vicinity worsens the situation, as customers park their vehicles on the road. Auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws further contribute to the chaos, leading to frequent traffic jams.
In 2018, following a High Court order, around 1,400 illegal encroachments were removed from Rudrapur’s main market. Even large buildings were demolished as part of this drive. The municipal corporation built new footpaths on both sides of the roads at a cost of ₹12 crore, with each footpath measuring about 10 feet in width. However, these footpaths have now been illegally occupied again by traders. Not only are they displaying goods outside their shops, but they are also renting out the space to vendors, further worsening the situation.
Traffic jams are particularly severe during school hours when students, many of whom travel by e-rickshaws, get stuck in gridlock. Shopkeepers also contribute to the problem by parking their vehicles in front of their shops, further narrowing the streets. Though the administration and police occasionally launch campaigns to address the issue, their efforts are short-lived. After a couple of days, the situation reverts to chaos.
Locals have suggested several solutions to alleviate the problem. “The goods displayed by traders on the footpaths should be confiscated, and strict action should be taken against them. E-rickshaws should be prohibited from entering the market, especially from areas like Anaaj Mandi and Gandhi Park,” said social worker Ashish Arya.
Advocate Radheshyam Agarwal added, “The police should impose hefty fines on those who park their two-wheelers and four-wheelers haphazardly. At least three police officers should be stationed in the market daily.” Ajay Gaba, another local social worker, said, “If the footpaths are cleared, there will be no traffic jams, and it will make the market more convenient for pedestrians.”
When asked about the issue, Rudrapur Municipal Corporation Commissioner Naresh Durgapal said, “After Diwali, a strict campaign will be launched against illegal encroachments in the market.”
