Encroachments by vegetable vendors choke Baijnath road

A large number of fruit and vegetable vendors have encroached upon the stretch of the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway passing through Baijnath town, causing regular traffic jams and contributing to several accidents. Despite the severity of the issue, neither the local administration nor the Baijnath Municipal Council has taken effective action in the past five years.

The Himachal Pradesh Roadside Land Control Act strictly prohibits any construction within five metres of a highway to ensure smooth traffic flow. However, vendors continue to occupy this restricted zone with impunity. Shockingly, the Baijnath Municipal Council is collecting Rs 50 per day from these vendors, even though the land belongs to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Vendors argue that timely payments to the Municipal Council entitle them to continue their businesses along the highway.

The situation has worsened over the years, with the road’s width shrinking due to shops on both sides. In some cases, vendors have extended their stalls right up to the highway’s white line, leaving barely any space for vehicles to pass. The NHAI has also remained inactive despite the growing problem.

Repeated complaints and requests to the police, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), and Municipal Council have failed to yield results. A senior MC officer claimed that notices were issued several times, but vendors repeatedly ignored them and expanded their stalls.

With no enforcement from the concerned departments, traffic congestion and road safety risks in Baijnath continue to escalate.

Himachal Tribune