When will Doon’s bazaars become congestion-free?

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Dehradun: Years after Paltan Bazaar, one of the oldest markets of Dehradun, was declared a no-vehicle zone to ease congestion, its adjoining areas such as Moti Bazaar and Hanuman Chowk continue to grapple with severe traffic chaos due to a high volume of commercial activities and the absence of regulation to mitigate these. With hundreds of shops drawing thousands of visitors daily, the narrow lanes of these areas remain choked with customer vehicles, e-rickshaws, and other public transport modes, exacerbating the situation.
“Every day is a struggle. Footpaths have been taken over by vendors, leaving no space for pedestrians to walk. There is no scope for widening of roads. Cars parked on narrow roads bring traffic to a standstill, and even during peak hours, there are no traffic cops to regulate movement,” said Akshay Mittal, a shop owner in the Mochi Market area.
Residents have expressed the need for a vehicle regulation or a zero-car policy, similar to Paltan Bazaar. “The situation worsens when goods trucks come in for loading or unloading at the shops here. During school dispersal hours, vans and buses add to the congestion. We need a timeline policy immediately, to restrict movement of certain vehicles in the area, making it a no-entry zone,” said an old-time resident of the area.
Traders also pointed out the lack of law enforcement and monitoring in the area. “We’ve had several break-ins at night, with no CCTV cameras installed for surveillance. Even sanitation facilities here are minimal, making it hard for both traders and visitors. The area needs an immediate overhaul,” said Ajay Taneja, a local trader. SP (Traffic) Mukesh Thakur told TOI, “There are no plans yet for making these areas a no-vehicle zone. But, we’ll conduct a survey and if the need arises, a plan will be devised and local inputs will be taken.”