Encroachment and garbage around Ajmeri Puliya leave commuters troubled

Jaipur: The area beneath Ajmeri Puliya near Jaipur Railway Junction is increasingly becoming a source of inconvenience for commuters and local residents. What was once a busy passage for smooth movement has now turned into a congested stretch filled with illegal handcarts, private buses and piles of garbage. From early morning till late evening, the area remains crowded and chaotic, while poor sanitation has only added to people’s discomfort.

A large number of illegal stalls have occupied space beneath the bridge, narrowing the road considerably. At the same time, several private buses have informally started using the spot as a stopping point, leading to frequent traffic congestion throughout the day. Passengers stepping out of the railway station are often forced to navigate through the clutter and foul smell.

Ramesh Sharma, who regularly travels through the area, said, “The smell from the garbage hits you the moment you step out of the station. For many visitors, this becomes their first impression of the city, and it is not pleasant at all.”

Iqbal Khan, who runs a nearby shop, said the situation worsened again despite earlier action. “A few months ago, some encroachments were removed and people hoped things would improve. But now even more handcarts have come up here. By evening, the crowd becomes so heavy that customers struggle to even reach the shops,” he said.

Pooja Meena, who works in an office nearby, said the constant movement of buses and handcarts has made the area unsafe for pedestrians. “There is hardly any space left on the road. At times, even crossing the stretch feels risky,” she said.

Last year, Civil Lines MLA Gopal Sharma directed the Jaipur Municipal Corporation to remove illegally operated handcarts from the area. While some action was taken at the time, locals say the encroachments have now returned in even larger numbers, raising questions over the effectiveness of the drive.