Months on,community parking lots still on paper

Usually,most of the sectors in the city are choked with private vehicles,with rows of cars parked on both sides of the roads.

The problem is especially acute in early morning and late night,when most of the people are home. As a result,traffic jams have become common on the internal roads.

Why community parking lots?
Over the years,the number of vehicles in the city has increased manifold. Most houses have more than one vehicle. There are cases where three families residing on each floor of a multi-storey house have separate vehicles.

With an increase in the number of private vehicles,parking spaces have been shrinking.

To deal with the problem,the Municipal Corporation had mooted the idea to build community parking lots in sectors.

Under the proposal,a parking lot was to come up on a piece of vacant land in every sector. Residents were required to park their vehicles in the parking lot and walk a short distance to their house.

Also,a watchman was to be deputed at the parking lot in the night.

The foundation stone of the first community parking lot was laid in Sector 19 in December last year. But construction has not begun till date.

The residents of the area are opposed to having a community parking lot,which they say would “increase traffic in the area”.

“The parking lot was proposed to tide over the problem of lack of parking space in the area. But the residents do not want it,” area councillor Anju Beniwala said.

“I will take up the matter with the mayor. We might look at the possibility of shifting the proposed parking lot to another site.”

Former mayor Kamlesh during whose tenure the foundation stone of the parking lot was laid,said,“There is a need to plan for the future. In the coming years,the number of vehicles is going to increase. At night,roads in the sectors are jam-packed. In case of a fire or emergency,fire tenders and ambulances will find it difficult to reach a house.”

“Community parking lots will also help in preventing car thefts,as a watchman will be deputed,” she added.

Councillor Arshad Khan said there should be a fee to use these community parking lots.

“The residents should pay for civic amenities. If you have money to buy a car,you should be able to pay for parking it. In all developed countries,people have to pay heavily for keeping a vehicle. The same should be applicable here and the community parking lots should charge a parking fee.”

For several residents,meanwhile,a community parking lot is the “need of the hour”. “I have witnessed more than one fight in my area over parking cars. There is barely any space to park vehicles in residential areas.” Parmod Sharma,a resident of Sector 35,said.

Another resident of Sector 15,Tanushree,said,“Area residents should cooperate and not oppose the idea of community parking lots. If by walking a small distance chaos can be checked,the option should be explored.”