GPRS-enabled parking still on paper as authorities pass the buck

As per the first project report,the Traffic Department was assigned the task of identifying high traffic points/areas in the city and inform the AMC or AUDA (Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority) on it. Based on the spots selected,the parking meters were going to be installed on those roads first and then gradually in other areas. The system assured systematic parking by paying fees in the meters.

Commissioner I P Gautam said: “There were a few discussions with the Traffic Department and the AUDA in the past to select the spots for the pilot project. AMC has the responsibility to maintain the system,while the Traffic Department was given the job to fix measures to stop violations. The project was conceptualised by Asia Everest and they wanted to bring an online parking system with parking meters,control rooms and fees.”

When contacted,Zeev Mulishia,the chairman of Asia Everest,initially refused to talk about the project,but later said the Traffic Department and the AMC have neither identified the spots nor taken any decision and so work on the project has not begun.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M M Anarwala said his department is not yet ready with the map of high traffic points and other requirements of the project. “We haven’t prepared the chart yet,” he added.

The Rs 250-crore project aimed to bring a state-of-the-art parking system for Gujarat. It was to be an automatic GPRS-based parking system. Some special features included: recruitment of supervisors and wardens with hand-held terminals to monitor the system; setting up a computerised control centre to manage parking meters; and a specially designed patrol vehicle meant to transport the illegally parked vehicles to the central lot.