Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 26 Dec: In an important move to address severe traffic congestion plaguing the city every Sunday, the district administration has decided to relocate the Sunday Bazaar outside the main city area. In this regard, District Magistrate Savin Bansal has taken a firm decision to shift the Sunday Market, which is considered to be a major cause of traffic jams in the main area of Dehradun city every Sunday. It has been decided to shift the Sunday Market to a plot belonging to Metro Rail Limited near the ISBT. The decision followed consideration of the serious obstacles faced by the elderly, children and emergency services.
In compliance with instructions from DM Bansal, the Sunday weekly market currently being held every Sunday held at Rangers’ Ground near Lansdowne Chowk has been transferred to Metro Rail Limited land near ISBT, Dehradun, in the interest of public welfare and to ensure smooth traffic management. The DM has ordered the relocation of the bazaar, which had been stifling the city’s transport system. Noting the hardships endured by senior citizens and children, as well as disruptions to emergency services, the district administration implemented this step to move the market to a more suitable location.
It may be recalled that during the weekly market at Rangers’ Ground, the influx of large crowds and the vehicles, coupled with disorganised parking, leads to massive traffic snarls at Lansdowne Chowk, Darshan Lal Chowk, Buddha Chowk, Doon Hospital Chowk and Cross Road Junction, besides other surrounding areas. This is believed to create serious hindrances not only for ordinary citizens but also for patients, their relatives and the ambulance services heading to and from Doon Medical College and Hospital.
It may be reminded here that important places like Doon Hospital and major arterial roads, other key intersections and various offices are not located far from Rangers’ Ground. The traffic blockages caused by the Sunday Bazaar severely impacts the essential services. The district administration therefore resolved to relocate the market.
It is also significant to note that the Sunday Weekly Market Welfare Committee had also urged a transfer of the market from Rangers’ Ground and its shift to a better site. After discussions at a meeting on the issue, the DM, in public interest, has now prohibited Sunday Market operations at Rangers’ Ground and has directed the shift to land owned by Uttarakhand Metro Rail Urban Infrastructure and Buildings Construction Corporation Limited near ISBT, Dehradun.
In this regard, the district administration, exercising powers under Section 163(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, has issued an order to ensure uninterrupted public transport and essential services. The new site remains vacant and under the possession and control of the MDDA. The arrangement will continue until actual construction work for the Metro project begins on the site.
