Jaipur: What was once considered one of Jaipur’s fastest-growing residential areas is now battling severe traffic congestion and encroachment, as more than 100 food stalls have sprung up in a non-vending zone near Capital Mall on Mahal Road in Jagatpura.Operating daily from around 5pm to midnight, the stalls have gradually expanded from an open ground to the adjoining service lane. Customers park vehicles on both the main road and the service lane, leaving the stretch choked with traffic and virtually unusable during peak hours.Residents said congestion now extends for nearly a kilometre, while nearby internal roads have also been encroached upon, making it difficult even for two-wheelers to pass. They warned that emergency vehicles, including ambulances and fire tenders, would struggle to access the area in case of an emergency.“We bought our home here expecting a peaceful neighbourhood. But over the past year, the number of food stalls and visitors has increased so much that it no longer feels safe to step out in the evening,” said resident Parul Jangid.Naveen Wadhwani, who runs a nearby shop, said the service lane remains blocked every evening. “Visitors park their vehicles on the road, leading to long traffic jams. In an emergency, it would be almost impossible to use the service lane. We have complained to the municipal corporation several times, but nothing has changed,” he said.Residents alleged that despite repeated complaints over the past year, the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) has conducted only two or three temporary eviction drives, with stall operators returning soon after.Responding to the allegations, JMC Vigilance deputy commissioner Ajay Sharma said, “We have asked them two or three times to remove the stalls, but they did not comply. We cannot issue notices as the land does not belong to them, and there is no permanent construction. We are now preparing a plan to remove all the stalls in a single drive and will seek the commissioner’s approval before taking action.”
