Punjab traders flag festive-season challenges; Vineet Verma urges swift action by Mohali administration
Babushahi Bureau
SAS Nagar (Mohali), October 2, 2025
Punjab State Traders’ Commission member Vineet Verma has raised a set of urgent festival-season concerns with Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal and the Municipal Corporation Mohali Commissioner, citing traffic chaos, parking squeeze, and revenue losses faced by market associations across SAS Nagar.
Verma said multiple Beopar Mandals and Market Associations have reported temporary vendors being allowed to set up stalls directly in front of established showrooms, booths, and shops, encroaching on walking and parking areas and choking market mobility during peak hours. He noted that such unauthorised vending disrupts visitor footfall and erodes legitimate traders’ earnings during the most crucial period of the year.
He also flagged sanitation lapses, pointing to the garbage RMC dump near some markets, including Phase 2, which he said is not cleared daily and creates foul odour and unhygienic conditions that deter customers. He urged daily clearance and, where necessary, relocation of such dumps away from commercial clusters to restore shopper confidence.
Verma raised concerns over sub-standard goods being sold at temporary stalls under reputed brand names at deep discounts, calling it a case of copyright violations and unfair competition that undermines investments by authorised franchisees and showroom owners. He pressed for stronger enforcement to safeguard brand integrity and consumer interest.
Calling for immediate civic upgrades, Verma sought repair and recarpeting of damaged pavements and roads, fresh road markings in parking bays, installation of festive lighting, and benches to enhance shopper convenience and dwell time in market areas.
He urged the district administration and MC Mohali to stop allotting vendor stalls in parking zones and to instead create a designated vending area with proper parking and oversight for temporary sellers. He suggested allowing only roadside poor vendors such as diya sellers within market loops during the festive window, and said any temporary stall permission for a shopkeeper should be limited to space opposite the applicant’s own shop with a no-objection certificate from neighbouring traders to prevent disputes.
Reiterating the commission’s stance, Verma said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab State Traders’ Commission remains committed to a healthy, fair, and growth-oriented business environment, and will continue to coordinate with departments to deliver time-bound redressal for traders and industrialists statewide.