Dehradun — The Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) has begun registering shops and initiating eviction procedures from the city’s largest bottleneck, the Arhat (wholesale grain) Bazaar, with shifting operations set to start on November 3. The clearance is aimed at widening Saharanpur Road from Arhat Bazaar to Tehsil Chowk to ease traffic flow.

While MDDA is active on shop allotments and land registration, the Public Works Department (PWD) provincial wing has yet to secure budget approval to begin physical widening. PWD prepared a DPR in early 2024 estimating costs at Rs 24 crore, later revised to Rs 16 crore after scope changes; the amended DPR was sent to the government in September and awaits sanction.

Under the plan, the existing road—now between 10 and 18 metres wide at various stretches—will be made uniformly 24 metres. Smaller medians originally proposed for potential metro infrastructure have been scaled back; the median width will now be standard, and overall widening capped at 24 metres.

About 430 landowners and tenants between Gandhi Road and Tehsil Chowk are affected. Some 350 have opted for compensation, allotment of alternate plots, or both; remaining disputed properties will have compensation deposited in court so shifting isn’t delayed.

MDDA has appointed an assistant engineer to coordinate registrations with PWD from November 3, while PWD says tenders will follow once DPR funding is approved.

Disclaimer: This news is written on the basis of information received from different authentic sources.