Punjab government moves non-veg and liquor stalls out of Amritsar’s walled city
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The Punjab government has begun relocating temporary kiosks and street vendors selling liquor, meat, eggs, tobacco, and other non-vegetarian items from the walled city of Amritsar, which has recently been declared a holy city, officials said on Saturday.
Officials from the Amritsar Municipal Corporation said a detailed survey identified around 150 temporary shops and stalls operating within the walled city limits. These include meat shops, pan bidi kiosks, and carts selling boiled eggs.
According to officials, several areas were found to have vendors selling non-vegetarian food and tobacco products. These include the Old Telephone Exchange area near Shastri Market and Katra Jaimal Singh. Similar activity was also identified at Hathi Gate, Lohgarh Gate, Hakiman Gate, Bhagtanwala Gate, Guruwali Gate, Guru Bazaar, Lahori Gate, Namak Mandi, and nearby localities.
The move follows the recent declaration of the historic walled city as a holy area, prompting authorities to take steps aimed at preserving its religious and cultural character. Officials said the relocation process has begun and will be carried out in a phased manner to ensure minimal disruption while enforcing the new guidelines.
Municipal officials added that the exercise is focused on temporary vendors and kiosks and is being conducted based on the findings of the survey. Further action will be taken in coordination with relevant departments to ensure compliance with the decision.
The administration said the objective is to maintain the sanctity of the area while regulating commercial activity in accordance with the new status of the walled city.
