With imposition of the model code of conduct for the bypolls in the Banur Assembly segment, which covers parts of Mohali district, work to construct new booths at the Janata Rehri Market in Phase 3B1 may get delayed. A major inferno had razed the 378 illegal kiosks in the market on June 1, 2007. The bypolls will be held on August 3.

Of the already constructed 130 concrete booths, possession of 104 has been handed over to eligible shopkeepers. Tenders to construct another 239 booths were scheduled to be opened on July 9.

To end the over two-year delay in rehabilitating the displaced shopkeepers, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority on Wednesday decided to seek permission from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to open the tenders received for constructing concrete booths.

Municipal Council’s senior vice-president Harman Preet Singh Prince told Newsline that GMADA Chief Administrator Vivek Partap Singh has assured to begin the work to construct the new booths within a month, if the ECI permitted to go ahead with the project.