Chandigarh, Nov. 5 -- Home to the Punjab and Haryana civil secretariats, the high court, the Chandigarh administration, and official residences of both state chief ministers, Ward 2 is arguably the most prominent address in Chandigarh. Spanning Sectors 1 to 10, it blends key government institutions, coveted residential pockets, educational hubs, popular markets, and landmark tourist spots like the Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake. Yet, despite its high-profile status, residents face persistent civic struggles-from broken roads and parking shortages to neglected parks and security concerns. The ward reflects Chandigarh's core architectural heritage with expansive plots, low-rise structures, tree-lined avenues, and wide green belts. Sector 1 houses the Unesco-listed Capitol Complex and leisure zones, while Sectors 2 to 6 mix residential zones with state institutions. Sectors 7 to 9 feature established housing blocks and bustling commercial markets, while Sector 10 serves as an educational and cultural hub. Market congestion-particularly along the shopping complexes in Sectors 7, 8, 9, and 10-and outdated water pipelines top local grievances. Frequent pipe bursts force municipal teams to dig up newly laid stretches, leaving roads rutted. According to the area councillor, road recarpeting recently resumed in Sector 2 and adjoining sectors after months of delay caused by a bitumen shortage and budget constraints. Sector 10 residents face distinct security challenges. With DAV College, the Home Science College, and the Polytechnic situated nearby, locals complain of widespread student misbehaviour, including littering, unauthorised poster pasting, noise pollution, and clashes during campus election seasons. Residents also report open drug abuse in parks near DAV College, urging the police department to set up permanent barricades and increase patrolling. Nearby, overflowing bins at Leisure Valley continue to mar sanitation. A shopkeeper in Sector 9 said parking mismanagement and market congestion have become major concerns, with no councillor offering a practical solution. "The congestion gets worse every year, but there has been no proper solution. The situation is particularly difficult during peak hours," he said. He added that several market stretches remain poorly lit due to non-functional streetlights. An employee at MG Supermarket in Sector 9 said the establishment had to hire its own security guard to manage parking outside its premises due to a complete absence of traffic personnel. He said that market parking requires strict official supervision to prevent illegal stopping from choking movement. Satinder Singh, a Sector 7 resident, flagged poor sanitation in commercial pockets, highlighting overflowing dustbins around booth areas and demanding regular waste clearance. The continued blockage of the main road outside the Punjab chief minister's residence in Sector 2 remains a sore point. Sealed off during the peak of Punjab militancy in the 1980s, the road stays off-limits to the public. In November 2023, the Punjab and Haryana high court directed the Chandigarh administration to assess whether the stretch could be reopened with security checks. Residents maintain that reopening the route will decongest traffic and lower accident risks outside Sector 2. Meanwhile, residents of Sectors 2 and 3 have requested large, illuminated sector signboards, noting that commuters frequently lose their way after dark due to poor visibility. The problem of stray dogs and monkeys remain unaddressed. Acknowledging local frustration, councillor Maheshinder Singh Sidhu said while all stray dogs in the ward have been sterilised, central animal welfare regulations prohibit relocating them. He acknowledged that market parking infrastructure requires urgent expansion. Local Congress leader Amandeep Kaur Nijjer highlighted over a decade-long delay in earmarking land for a community centre in Sector 7. She also cited missing manhole covers in key areas and unmanaged market parking congestion as major administrative failures....