A day before the UT Administration’s demolition drive at the furniture market in Sectors 53 and 54, a large number of customers rushed to the area hoping to buy household goods at big discounts. However, many were disappointed as the discounts offered by shopkeepers were not as steep as expected.
Anita Devi from Panchkula said she was expecting throwaway prices, but the reductions were minimal. Maninder Singh, a resident of Sector 15, Chandigarh, echoed the same, saying the prices were only slightly lower than usual.
Some shopkeepers said they had no reason to sell at losses. Instead, they planned to shift their goods to godowns and sell them later. Many traders also have shops in other parts of the tricity.
Rajeev Bhandari, brother of the Furniture Market Association president, said the shopkeepers had pleaded with the Administration to save the 40-year-old market, but to no avail. He claimed traders were now forced to sell off their stock at low prices.
Due to the crowd, the road between Sector 53 and 54 witnessed traffic jams as there was no dedicated parking space. Transporters also took advantage of the situation and hiked freight charges. Amandeep Singh, a buyer, said he was asked to pay between ₹700 and ₹1,500 just to move a dining table to his home in Sector 47.
The UT Administration has made elaborate arrangements for the demolition, which begins at 7 am tomorrow. Around 1,000 police personnel will be deployed to maintain law and order. Quick Response Teams (QRTs), male and female police, fire brigade teams, health emergency services, and municipal staff will be on standby.
The Engineering Department will carry out the technical demolition, while the Municipal Corporation will handle debris removal.
The market was declared illegal as it had encroached on nearly 15 acres of government land. This land was acquired in 2002 from Kajheri, Badheri, and Palsora villages for the development of Sectors 53, 54, and 55. Despite being served notices in June, the shopkeepers did not vacate the area.
Earlier, 29 shops were demolished on June 30. Tomorrow, 116 more shops will be taken down as part of the drive.
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