LUCKNOW, May 24 -- The controversy surrounding the Lucknow Municipal Corporation's Rs.2-crore vending zone project in Ashiana intensified on Saturday after divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant said he would ask civic officials to conduct a field verification of the site following concerns over emergency access and traffic movement. The development came amid continued objections from local representatives, who alleged that the proposed vending zone could obstruct a key route used by ambulances and daily commuters. Vidyawati Ward III corporator Nirmala Singh wrote to the Sarojini Nagar MLA Rajeshwar Singh on Saturday, urging intervention to stop the project near Gautam Buddha Shanti Upvan in Vidyavati Sector-H. In her letter, Singh alleged that LMC was creating a "red zone" on a major road used by nearly 40,000 commuters daily, as stated in a letter accessed by HT. She said ambulances travelling to Lok Bandhu Raj Narayan Hospital and nearby private hospitals also depend on the route and warned that any permanent vending activity could create bottlenecks and delay emergency movement. "The vending zone is being developed without informing local representatives. The project should not create problems for residents and emergency services," Singh stated in her communication. After HT raised the issue, the divisional commissioner said he would discuss the matter with municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar and direct officials to conduct field verification. The issue has drawn attention because it follows the April 2025 Lok Bandhu Hospital fire incident, during which emergency vehicles reportedly struggled to access the area because of congestion and restricted routes. Following the incident, authorities had removed encroachments and assured residents that hospital approach roads would remain free of obstructions. LMC is developing the vending zone with 59 permanent shops near Gautam Buddha Shanti Upvan Park-2 in Sector-H, on a route connecting Ashiana and Bangla Bazaar intersections. Residents and local representatives fear customer vehicles parked outside the shops may further narrow the road and worsen congestion on the busy stretch....