Surveillance at nakas, rising traffic hassles: Multiple barricades bring Chandigarh traffic to a near crawl

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Written by: Jagpreet Singh Sandhu4 min readChandigarhApr 15, 2026 08:57 AM IST Police have since expanded their naka network, setting up around 40 checkpoints in the morning and another 40 in the evening. (File Photo) Make us preferred source on Google Whatsapp twitter Facebook Reddit PRINT Chandigarh’s heightened security crackdown marked by solar-powered cameras at naka points streaming live feeds to the Police Control and Command Centre — is tightening surveillance across the city, but the accompanying barricading within internal sectors is increasingly drawing criticism from residents over traffic congestion and daily inconvenience. The stepped-up checking follows recent incidents, including the daylight murder of Chamanpreet Singh, alias Chini, in Sector 9 and the grenade attack at the BJP office in Sector 37. Police have since expanded their naka network, setting up around 40 checkpoints in the morning and another 40 in the evening, with nearly 5,000 vehicles being checked on regular intervals. Police officials said the naka locations and personnel deployment are being rotated regularly based on intelligence inputs to prevent predictable escape routes. The addition of solar-based cameras at these points has enabled real-time monitoring of vehicle checks and movement across the city. However, on the ground, the experience for commuters has been far from smooth. “I was crossing towards Mullanpur via the PGI–Khuda Lahora road when a major traffic snarl took place due to these nakas,” Saurabh Sharma, a resident of Sector 39, said. “There was heavy congestion, and it didn’t seem like traffic was being regulated alongside the checks,” he added. Rajbir Kaur, another commuter, said the situation has become a daily ordeal. “The checking is intense, but there is no planning for traffic flow. During peak hours, vehicles pile up quickly, and people are left waiting for long stretches,” she said. Concerns have been echoed by resident welfare bodies as well. Federation of Sector Welfare Associations Chandigarh (FOSWAC) president Baljinder Singh Bittu said the arrangement is leading to widespread inconvenience. “This barricading in the internal sectors of the city is leading to complete traffic chaos. After the recent crimes, while police have set up nakas in internal areas as well, vehicles have started piling up, especially during late evening hours when offices close and in the morning rush,” Bittu said. “After four to five cycles of the traffic light turning green, a commuter is able to move just one light point, and that is because of multiple barricading on the roads,” he added. Bittu said he has personally witnessed long queues at several key junctions. “At Sector 21, the Sector 18-19 intersection, Sector 9, and many other places, people have been complaining. Even when children are heading to school, traffic in nearby areas gets piled up due to abrupt barricading. Is this the way crime prevention should be done? Commuters across the city are getting harassed,” he said. Chandigarh Residents Association Welfare Federation (CRAWFED) chairman Hitesh Puri also questioned the approach. “With these multiple barricading points inside the city, unnecessary traffic is being blocked. Rather than deploying this level of heavy barricading, the police should increase beat policing and patrolling,” Puri said. He added that strengthening existing surveillance infrastructure may yield better results. “The city police should focus on ensuring all CCTV cameras are functional. That will ultimately provide footage of criminals trying to escape,” he said. Puri also cited the impact on daily routines. “One of my office staffers earlier used to leave Sector 47 at 9.30 am and reach Sector 22 by 9.50 am. Now he starts at 9.10 am and still reaches at 9.50 am because he gets stuck at five check points inside the city. There is no point in blocking roads with so many nakas,” he said. Meanwhile, police officials maintain that the intensified measures are yielding results on the ground. A senior UT police officer said increased barricading has led to the arrest of drug peddlers and other criminals who were moving around the city with weapons and allegedly planning offences. “The naka positions are changed based on intelligence inputs. This is helping in checking snatchers and other criminals effectively,” the officer said, adding that the aim is to create a strong deterrent and plug gaps exposed in recent incidents where accused managed to escape. Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram