FOR THE last three years, news has been surfacing in newspapers that the famous but congested Sadar Bazar in old Gurgaon city would be made a vehicle-free zone but nothing has happened so far. Residents had lost hope that the historical market would be de-congested but as they say there is always light at the end of the tunnel, the latest proposal by ‘no less than Praveen Kumar’ seems to have gone well with both the businessmen and the residents.

Gunjan Batra (name changed), a resident told Merinews that these are just statements but when informed that the statement has come from top HUDA administrator, Praveen Kumar who is being seen as an honest and dedicated officer, she said: “In that case, I feel there are 40 percent chances, because of Kumar’s record. And I am sure there must be some people who would try to sabotage the process.”

Batra added that such people would at least clear the way for two and three-wheelers on the grounds that people won’t shop there if they have to carry their luggage.

Kumar visited the market on Monday and proposed to turn the entire stretch of the market into a ‘no-vehicle zone’. According to The Times of India, he has warned the shopkeepers of stern action if their encroachments resurface on the roads. His team has also videographed the extent of encroachment by the shops.

Because of its history and relatively cheaper merchandise, thousands of people visit the market everyday and shop for furniture, readymade garments, grocery and fruits and vegetables, among others. The move has also gone well with some shopkeepers who have been blaming the losses to traffic mess. Vikas Sharma, a shopkeeper told The Times of India: “People have stopped visiting the market because they face so many hurdles because of the traffic hurdles and on the other side malls that are mushrooming in Gurgaon eating into our profits.”

Since the stakes of a large business community are involved in the Sadar Market, it would be a herculean task for the maverick HUDA administrator and it wouldn’t be like any regular demolition of encroachments that he has become famous for. But the good part is that the MCG and police are also thinking on the same lines and even the MCG commissioner has shot off a letter to all the town planners couple of months back to turn the market into a ‘vehicle-free zone’.