The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : End to parking woes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 10, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

End to parking woes

With the police cracking the whip, haphazard parking on Salem city roads is likely to become a thing of past, writes R. Ilangovan

The stern warning issued by Police Commissioner K. Gopalakrishnan against parking of vehicles on road margins in the city has revived the hopes that the city traffic, which has been sliding fast from worse to madness, could be restored to sanity to a greater extent.

The boom in the trade of late has led to the proliferation of shopping complexes, malls, hotels and trade centres in almost all parts of the city.

But what hurts the already strained city traffic is the haphazard parking of the vehicles on the roads in front of these shopping complexes, many of which of course have built-in parking space as per rules.

Though a few managements of these complexes insist their customers that they should park their vehicles in the space meant for it, many have slyly converted this space for underground shops, eateries and restaurants thus forcing the people to park on the roads only.

This road-side parking has become a menace in the city leading to frequent accidents, which results in the loss of valuable human lives. The parking menace does not confine to the old city areas.

The new areas and roads, which are prone to this reckless parking include Omalur Main Road, roads opposite to Integrated Bus stand, Saradha College Road and certain parts in Cherry road.

Realising the acute problems being faced by the law-abiding motorists, the Commissioner recently told his men to tighten the grip against the law-breakers and those who devour the road margins that are meant for pedestrians.

"The authorities in Salem Corporation are to be blamed for this blatant violation of the rules of the Town Planning. They just turn their eyes away whenever a shop owner breaches the rule for business interests.

Many of the shopping complexes in busy areas such as Fairlands and Bus stand are coming up with no provision for parking slots," points out a police officer.

But the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic) Radhika is optimistic.

She says that the chaotic traffic can be disciplined and regulated.

"We have intensified our drive against such shopping complexes, which have not earmarked the space for parking," she says.

The police, she points out, will not only tow away the vehicles that are parked on the road sides and slap fines but also insist the shopping complexes managements not to encourage such unlawful activity in future.

"They have been sternly warned of action against them and a few of them have started providing parking space.

"The issue will be taken up with the Salem Corporation authorities," Ms. Radhika says.

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