The UT education department on Monday has thrown open the parking lots of its 27 schools and colleges for the general public to park their vehicles this festive season from Monday onwards till November 9, but with a rider. The order, issued by Director, Higher Education, Rubinderjit Singh Brar, clearly specified that “the education department will not be responsible for any loss or damage to the parked vehicles”. The educational institutions which will be opened for parking are those in sectors 8, 15, 18, 19, 20, 22, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 44, 46 and Manimajra where people are allowed to park their vehicles at parking lots after the schools and colleges close for the day. It was further stated that the general public should not use playgrounds of these educational institutions to park their cars. Only the parking area will be used. The Senior Superintendent of Police and SSP Traffic will have to provide security in each of the schools which will be used for parking,” the order specified. “It’s a relief to know opening of parking spaces of city government schools and colleges falling in market areas by the UT education department,” said Vinod Vashisht, president of the Government Houses RWS Sector 22. “I have inquired with the education department and the traffic police officials regarding the consequence of the presence of any parked vehicle late at night in any of the school or college grounds. Such vehicles shall be treated as unclaimed vehicles and the local police will be taking cognizance of any such unclaimed vehicle. Owners are advised not to leave their vehicles on education premises in the night,” he added. A letter has also been sent by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic Shashank Anand to the Chairman of Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM) asking him to advise customers to park at these designated places. CBM Chairman Charanjiv Singh confirmed the development. “Customers may be advised to park their vehicles at designated parking lots and in schools and community centres earmarked for this season. Informative signboards guiding the public to the parking lots in the markets can also be put up by the market welfare associations,” read the letter by the SSP Traffic. The SSP Traffic also said that shopkeepers may park their vehicles only at the rear side of the shops instead of the front parking lots. Market associations have even been asked to depute their own volunteers to manage traffic in front of the markets in order to assist the police.
