MC Goes After Encroachers, Illegal Vendors as Crackdown Gains Steam

The Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC) has intensified its drive against illegal vendors and shopkeepers encroaching public space in markets by issuing as many as 5,046 challans to violators over the past two months.

- Mandeep Kaur Narula

CHANDIGARH:

The crackdown is targeting street vendors operating without licenses and shopkeepers displaying their goods outside their designated premises, encroaching upon footpaths and walkways, not even sparing walls and ceilings in some places.

As per official data, in April and May 2024, MC had issued 2,885 challans to the violators, a number which has risen to 5,046 in the same period this year—a nearly two-fold jump.

In April, 2,500 challans were issued, contributing ₹30 lakh to the MC's revenue via fines, while May saw a further 2,546 challans, adding nearly ₹25 lakh to the civic body's coffers.

Even in March 2025, MC had slapped 2,655 challans, generating over ₹32 lakh in fines.