10 years on, Sectors 50, 51 yet to have markets

CHANDIGARH: It seems that the residents of Sectors 50 and 51 will have to wait a little longer for having a local market in their area. It has been a decade that the residents have been raising their demands on various platforms. Area councillor Heera Negi has also shown her helplessness towards developing the markets in these sectors and open booths which have been shut for a long time now.

The residents shared their grievances that they have been facing while residing in these sectors for over 15 years. In 2007, residents of Sector 51 were assured that the administration concerned would construct a market area by March 31, 2008, but it’s been a decade and the project still hangs fire.


Adding to the woes, of the 30 service booths in the area, only four are operational which provide basic service to the residents.

Similarly, residents of Sector 50 claimed that the authorities concerned have earmarked the market place about which they are clueless. They said whenever they have raised the issue the authorities assured them that a proper market area would be developed in the area.

Heera Negi said she had raised the issue with the authorities concerned, but it had not been solved till date. She said she was going to take up the matter with the Chandigarh administration again as the market was a basic necessity for residents of any sector.

Girish Kapoor, member of the resident welfare association of Sector 50, said since 2011 the residents have been struggling to get the market area developed in the area. He said the residents had submitted memorandums on the issue in the past, but all in vain as no action had been taken by the authorities concerned till date.

He said the residents were dependent on markets in other areas.

Advocate Surinder Singh Rana, secretary, Sector 50 resident welfare association, said when the area was developed the residents were assured that they would be provided with all necessary facilities, but nothing concrete had been done for the residents in this direction. He said it seemed that the residents of this sector do not belong to Chandigarh.

Sangeeta Lekhi, member of the citizen welfare society (CWS) of Sector 51, said they had to visit Phase VII Mohali market or Sector 44 market for routine grocery purchases. “The four service booths which are operational do not have sufficient stuff,” she said.