Delay drags on: Shopian’s vendor zone remains incomplete
Shopian, Nov 25: The construction of Shopian’s long-promised vendor zone has dragged on for years, leaving residents frustrated as traffic congestion in the town steadily worsens.
The project, launched to ease mobility and relocate hundreds of roadside vendors to a designated space, remains unfinished despite repeated assurances from officials.
Residents said the administration began work on the vendor zone in 2022 to clear the main market of vendors whose makeshift stalls and carts spill onto the roads, narrowing walkways and causing daily traffic snarls.
“Nearly three years later, the zone is yet to be made operational,” said Mitha Gatoo, a social activist from Shopian.
Gatoo said the unchecked expansion of roadside vending is one of the major reasons for peak-hour gridlocks.
“Their carts and stalls eat up road space, slow movement, and create bottlenecks every single day,” he said.
He added that delays in shifting the vendors have only intensified the problem, forcing commuters, traders, and schoolchildren to navigate persistent choke points.
According to Gatoo, the administration had assured residents last year that the vendor zone would be completed within a month and vendors would be relocated immediately afterwards.
“More than a year has passed since then, but the zone is still not functional,” he said, urging authorities to provide a clear timeline.
Other residents echoed the concern. Ashiq Hussain said that with Shopian’s growing population and expanding commercial activity, existing roads can no longer handle the traffic load.
“Once vendors are shifted out of the main bazaar, it will bring huge relief. Traffic will move more smoothly, and pedestrians will finally have space to walk safely,” he said.
He added that frequent congestion also hurts business, as customers avoid the market due to gridlocked roads and limited parking.
Suhail Malik, Chief Executive Officer of the Municipal Council Shopian, said work on the vendor zone is nearing completion.
“Around 95 percent of the construction has been completed. Vendors will be shifted as soon as the remaining work is finished,” he said.
