MC siezes all that strays from yellow line, ambulances out of critical jams; Anti-encroachment drive on Field Ganj main road to ease traffic in Ludhiana.

Ludhiana: A targeted anti-encroachment operation began at Field Ganj Road on Wednesday in an attempt to clear traffic-clogging obstructions that officials say are delaying emergency services and endangering lives.
Led by the municipal corporation's tehbazaari wing and backed by the city's traffic police, the campaign aimed at enforcing compliance with a recently painted yellow line demarcating the space that shopkeepers are allowed to use. Any goods placed beyond this boundary were seized. While some vendors had moved their wares behind the line already, others were caught violating the limit, prompting the MC staff to confiscate goods placed illegally on the road.
Senior deputy mayor Rakesh Prashar, who had met with the local shopkeepers' association previously, said the MC had issued them warnings well ahead of the operation. "We told them clearly that any encroachment would result in confiscation and possible legal action, including FIRs first-information reports," he said. The crackdown was triggered by mounting complaints about congestion on Field Ganj Road, a key corridor for ambulances heading to the civil hospital and Christian Medical College (CMC). Officials said obstructions had delayed patient transport repeatedly. "Emergency services must not be held hostage by shopfront spillovers," Prashar said, citing persistent traffic jams that have made it difficult for ambulances to reach hospitals in time.
Despite repeated warnings, officials noted on the spot that many shopkeepers tend to resume illegal encroachment shortly after enforcement teams leave the area. MLA (Central) Ashok Prashar joined the operation midway, requesting shopkeepers to cooperate with the MC for the greater good of the city. "If the road remains clear, it will not only help emergency services but also boost foot traffic and business," he tried to reason with them. "No customer wants to visit a crowded and chaotic market."
Police maintain vigil all evening
Senior traffic police officers, including additional deputy commissioner of police Gurpreet Kaur Purewal and assistant commissioner of police Jatin Bansal, monitored the operation. Cops remained stationed in the area into the evening hours to deter immediate re-encroachment. Local officials say they will continue enforcement until the area is free of illegal structures and congestion permanently.
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