Lucknow: Encroachment across the city has become a pressing issue for Lucknow’s traders. During a meeting held on Wednesday at the Abdul Kalam Auditorium in the Collectorate, District Magistrate Vishakh G. chaired discussions with members of various trade associations and officials from multiple departments.
Prominent participants included Aman Nath Mishra, President of the Lucknow Vyapar Mandal, Pawan Manocha, Senior General Secretary, Anurag Mishra, Jitendra Singh Chauhan, Arun Awasthi, Arif Khan, Raju Shukla, Savita Goyal, Love Arora, and Rubeel among others.
Traders raised several concerns related to departments such as the Municipal Corporation, Power Department, Urban Development, LDA, Police, and Traffic. President Amar Nath Mishra pointed out that while the Municipal Corporation occasionally removes encroachments, vendors return to the same spots within days. He cited the example of vegetable carts near Rakabganj Bridge, which reappeared a week after being cleared.
He further emphasized that with Diwali approaching, increased traffic and crowding heighten the risk of accidents, necessitating additional police deployment at intersections and intensified patrolling in marketplaces.
Traders also flagged other civic issues. The road on Nadan Mahal — dug up last year by the Jal Nigam for laying pipelines — remains unrepaired, leading to frequent accidents. Pawan Manocha highlighted widespread issues with street lighting, urging immediate repairs.
Encroachment in Naka area was described as “severe,” with no visible action despite repeated directions. Garbage dumps continue to occupy service lanes, causing inconvenience. Responding to this, the DM announced the formation of a special committee, chaired by the Additional Municipal Commissioner and DCP Traffic, to hold a follow-up meeting on October 9 at 4 p.m. with traders of Naka Market for on-ground resolution.
Anurag Mishra complained that the encroachments under the Nakhas bridge still persist despite prior assurances for removal. In Chowk Market, vehicles parked along the main road create frequent jams, adding to the chaos.
Jitendra Singh Chauhan raised the issue of prolonged power cuts in Aminabad Market, which disrupt business for hours daily. He remarked that despite the market’s 200-year-old legacy, the infrastructure — including roads, power lines, and sanitation — remains outdated.
Taking prompt action, the DM directed the Executive Engineer to immediately restore power supply to the Sahara Trade Centre unit of the Lucknow Vyapar Mandal.
Concluding the meeting, the District Magistrate instructed all departments to act swiftly on traders’ grievances to ensure smooth business operations and public convenience during the upcoming festive season.
