Srinagar, Sept. 5 -- The Municipal Council Bandipora on Friday declared the Gulshan Chowk-Nowpora Chowk corridor a "green zone", prohibiting street vending and roadside encroachments to ease traffic congestion in the town.

As ler the order, the decision follows repeated traffic jams on the stretch, which connects to vital institutions including the District Hospital, causing difficulties for ambulances, patients and emergency services.

The order, issued by the Chief Executive Officer of the Municipal Council reads that an assessment had found roadside vendors and hawkers around Gulshan Chowk to be a primary cause of disruption. While the municipality had earlier designated a space within the market for vendors, several continued to oper...