Chandigarh authorities demolish 40-year-old illegal furniture market after prolonged legal fight

An unauthorized furniture market in Sectors 53 and 54 was demolished in the presence of the local administration and police. The illegal market, operating since 1985 on 15 acres of agricultural land, housed 116 shops. It caused frequent traffic jams due to unregulated parking and had become a major chokepoint on the Chandigarh–Mohali route. Poor fire safety measures and the storage of flammable materials like thinners led to repeated fire incidents over the years. Legal hurdles delayed its removal for decades, but a 2023 High Court order cleared the way for demolition. The latest relocation proposals by traders were rejected by the UT administration. Despite earlier postponements, authorities proceeded with the demolition, offering no alternative site to the affected shopkeepers.