Home / Business and Economy / Dehradun Traders Face Endless Wait for New Market Shops
Dehradun Traders Face Endless Wait for New Market Shops
25 Oct
Summary
- Market relocation, approved in 2023, remains stalled, frustrating traders.
- A Rs 100 crore project aims to widen Saharanpur Road by widening it.
- Traders cite document verification and official unavailability for delays.
Traders in Dehradun's historic 150-year-old Arhat market are facing prolonged delays in relocating their businesses. The state cabinet approved the relocation in 2023, part of a Rs 100 crore project by the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) to widen a crucial stretch of Saharanpur Road. This initiative aims to alleviate traffic congestion that has plagued the area for nearly two decades.
Despite repeated assurances that shop allotment at the new site would commence soon, traders have been told to wait. The process was most recently expected during Navratri but is still pending. Officials cite document verification for 410 affected properties as the primary reason for the holdup. However, sources indicate the allotment process is finalized, with delays attributed to the unavailability of senior ministers and officials for an inauguration ceremony.
Traders are anxious about the slow pace, noting that even after allotment, shop preparation and moving will take additional months. Concerns have also been raised about the new site's layout, specifically the narrow internal roads which could replicate existing congestion issues. The relocation is vital for easing traffic bottlenecks near Hanuman Chowk and the railway station, benefiting commuters and tourists.
