Dehradun's Decades-Old Sunday Market Finds a New Home
In a decisive move to address long-standing public grievances, the Dehradun district administration has ordered the relocation of the city's iconic weekly Sunday Market. District Magistrate Savin Bansal issued the order on Friday, shifting the market from its current location at Ranger's Ground to a vacant plot near the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT). This action comes as a direct response to repeated complaints about severe traffic congestion caused by the market's operation.
A History of Moves and Public Disruption
The Sunday Market, a hub for bargain hunters for nearly two decades, has a history of relocation. It initially operated at Paltan Bazaar before moving to the Tibetan market at Parade Ground. As traffic snarls rendered these locations impractical, it was shifted to Sahastradhara Road. Vendors there, however, reported poor customer turnout due to the peripheral location. The market also saw a brief stint near the Jhanda Mela area.
The pandemic led to its closure for almost two years, with operations resuming at Ranger's Ground in November 2021. Currently, it hosts around 300 registered vendors, plus numerous unregistered ones, many travelling from neighbouring districts. Every Sunday, the massive footfall and chaotic parking around the ground create gridlock, sparking public outrage and consistent demands for a move. The market welfare committee had also sought a more suitable site.
Traffic Gridlock Affecting Essential Services
The congestion had far-reaching consequences, severely impacting key intersections including Lansdowne Chowk, Darshanlal Chowk, Buddha Chowk, Doon Hospital Chowk, and the Cross Road intersection. This hampered the movement of residents, patients, and their attendants. Critically, it even disrupted ambulance services to and from the Govt Doon Medical College and Hospital, raising serious safety concerns.
"After discussions, we directed that the market be relocated to land belonging to Uttarakhand Metro Rail Urban Infrastructure and Building Construction Corporation Limited near ISBT," stated DM Savin Bansal.
The New Location and Legal Framework
The new site is a plot leased for the Neo (Metro) project under a state government order dated March 2, 2023, and is currently vacant and under the possession of the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA). The administration has clarified that this arrangement is temporary and will remain effective only until metro-related construction begins on the land.
The relocation order was formally issued under Section 163(1) of the Indian Civil Defence Code, 2023, with the stated objective of ensuring uninterrupted public transport and essential services in the area. This legal step underscores the administration's priority to resolve the chronic traffic issue plaguing the city every weekend.
