Parade Park to Anand Hotel Stretch Becomes ‘No-Go Zone’ as Rehari Walas Occupy Roads; Public Alleges Nexus with Municipality as EO Khalil A. Banday Promises Action
- The vital Parade Park and Anand Hotel area of Poonch Town is in chaos, with footpaths completely encroached by Rehari Walas (street vendors) extending well into the middle of the road, causing severe traffic congestion and endangering public movement, particularly during emergencies.
- Despite sporadic clearance drives by Poonch Municipality, the illegal occupation consistently resumes, fuelling strong public allegations of a deep-seated nexus between unscrupulous vendors and compromised municipal officials.
- This rampant encroachment poses a grave risk, echoing incidents in other states where such blockades have proven fatal during medical and other emergencies; Executive Officer (EO) Poonch Municipality, Khalil A. Banday, has now assured Jammu Jottingsof immediate and sustained action.
Harpreet Singh
Jammu, October 26, 2025: The bustling heart of Poonch Town, particularly the critical stretch from Parade Park to Anand Hotel, has been transformed into a labyrinth of chaos and congestion, with footpaths completely swallowed by illegal encroachments and street vendors spilling well into the middle of the road. This flagrant disregard for urban planning and public safety has not only made daily movement a nightmare for commuters but has also created potentially catastrophic “death traps” that could wreak havoc during medical or other emergencies. The local populace, seething with frustration, is now openly alleging a deep-seated nexus between the encroaching vendors and officials of the Poonch Municipality, prompting the Executive Officer (EO), Khalil A. Banday, to assure Jammu Jottings of immediate action.
The problem, deeply entrenched and highly visible, has turned what should be accessible public spaces into impassable barriers. Pedestrians are forced onto already congested roads, navigating a perilous path amidst vehicles, while motorists contend with continuous jams and bottlenecks. The core issue lies in the audacious occupation of footpaths by Rehari Walas and other vendors, whose stalls now extend far beyond designated areas, effectively choking the main arteries of Poonch Town.
The gravity of this situation extends beyond mere inconvenience. In other states, similar situations of rampant footpath and roadside encroachments have tragically proven to be fatal roadblocks during emergencies, preventing ambulances, fire tenders, or police vehicles from reaching their destinations in time. The very real possibility of a major disaster, where vital minutes are lost due to illegal street occupation, looms large over Poonch, a town already grappling with its unique logistical challenges as a border district.
For years, citizens have observed a disturbing pattern: the Poonch Municipality occasionally launches clearance or cleanliness drives, providing temporary relief. However, within days or weeks, the illegal practices resume with astonishing regularity and impunity. This cyclical failure to enforce urban laws has eroded public trust and given rise to strong allegations. “The Municipality launches drives, but after some days, the old practice resumes,” lamented a local resident. “This points towards a nexus between vendors and Poonch Municipality officials. It seems they benefit from letting the problem resurface.” This perceived collusion, where public space is traded for alleged private gain, undermines the credibility of the entire local governance system.
The Executive Officer (EO) of the Poonch Municipality, Khalil A. Banday, when contacted by Jammu Jottings regarding these serious allegations and the deteriorating situation, assured that he would personally “look into the matter” and pledged to take decisive action to clear the encroachments and restore public access to footpaths and roads.
However, the challenge for EO Banday will be not just to launch another temporary drive, but to ensure sustained enforcement that breaks the alleged nexus and prevents the return of the encroachers. The public demands not episodic clean-ups but continuous vigilance and accountability from the Poonch Municipality. The fate of Poonch’s public spaces, its traffic flow, and, most critically, its ability to respond effectively during emergencies, now hinges on the administration’s resolve to reclaim its authority from the illegal forces that have long held its vital arteries hostage.
