Now if any open rehri is lifted by the Tehbazari department, against the existing fine of Rs 500, Rs 1,500 will be charged and for the fancy rehris with roof top covered, the fine will be Rs 2,400 as against the previous fine of Rs 800. The Tehbazari wing has already started imposing fine at higher rates, to which the rehri vendors are even objecting because for a number of them, paying the fine amount is beyond their means.

MC Commissioner G.S Ghuman, however, said, “The fine has been hiked to reduce the number of rehris on the city roads and increase the traffic flow.”

But a number of vendors have more than four rehris with them and hence for them it is better to bring a new rehri rather than going to MC authorities to pay fine for getting the rehri released.

During the last few days, MC Commissioner himself had carried out this drive resulting in widening of a number of roads. However, as has been the case in the past, most of them re-emerged on most of the roads forcing the commissioner to increase the fine. This fine has to be paid every time a rehri is seized.

The commissioner said, “If our men will visit the market everyday, it will be difficult for the rehri vendors to deposit the fine so frequently.”