Illegal parking takes a big bite out of busy Kochi Broadway

September 24, 2013

(The Hindu–Unauthorised parking on Broadway has made life difficult for the public and traders. Photo: Thulasi Kakkat)

The name might have made sense a few years ago.

But today, calling one of the oldest and busiest business centres in the city Broadway is laughable as unauthorised parking has shrunk the road.

“It should be renamed narrow way,” remarked Joseph D’Silva, a member of the Broadway Shop Owners’ Association (BSOA) formed to find a solution to the commercial hub’s parking troubles.

Mr. D’Silva said two-wheelers parked in multiple rows on the left side of Broadway made life difficult for the public and traders alike. He said Broadway had become congested because employees of a shopping complex, sandwiched between Shanmugham Road and Broadway, parked their vehicles on the road.

“Employees of the shops in this trading complex have made Broadway the de facto parking space for their two-wheelers. This has cramped the 250-metre stretch of Broadway right from its entry point,” he said.

Complaint lodged

BSOA has lodged complaints with the City Police Commissioner and the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic, seeking a permanent solution to this problem.

P.A. Sageer, president, BSOA, warned that shop owners would be forced to resort to protests if authorities concerned failed to address the issue.

“The business in shops facing the illegal parking area has taken a severe beating. Our efforts to sort out the issue with owners of the shopping complex have proved futile,” he said.

K.S. Baby Vinod, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic West, said the police regulated parking at Broadway this festive season by deploying additional men and conducting bike patrol.

“The idea is to continue the arrangement and restrict parking to just one row and that too where space is available. Declaring Broadway a no-parking zone is the possible permanent solution. But it draws opposition from a section of traders,” he said.

In fact, the Ernakulam Merchants Union, now rechristened Kerala Merchants Union, along with the City Corporation had made Broadway a no-parking area a few years back. But that experiment fizzled out.

Gopal Shenoy, general secretary, Kerala Merchants’ Union, said the experiment facilitated smooth progress of trade along Broadway. However, the adjoining Cloth Bazaar Road and Market Road became clogged with parked vehicles and a section of traders there suffered.

Later a section of traders in Broadway allowed customers to park their two-wheelers while making purchases, but this led to customers parking their vehicles and cramping the road.

Mr. Shenoy said the police seemed to be considering the possibility of bringing back a parking ban in Broadway.

“In that case, we will ask for a similar ban on Cloth Bazaar Road and Market Road to avoid a repeat of the past,” he said.

Kerala Merchants’ Union is all set to hold a meeting with the police and BSOA to find a permanent solution to the parking woes of Broadway.

Source-http://www.thehindu.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Complain, Complaints, Parking

Parking chaos, garbage on pavements in Bhikaji Cama Place

September 5, 2013

Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Garima Vohra / PRATEEK VERMA / HT PHOTO

As it is, those who have their offices in Bhikaji Cama Place are facing problems due to a crunch in the parking space. The pavements, the service lanes and the backlanes are being used for parking. But at present, there is another problem that the people visiting the area or those who have their offices in the area are facing.

( (Garbage is dumped in the areas meant for parking.)

Most of the parking space along the main road is being wasted because garbage is being dumped on the pavements. “Since the garbage is dumped in the middle of the parking space, a lot of space is wasted. Some people come in early just to get parking space here. But when they come here, all they see is garbage,” says BK Sirohi, a shop owner.

There are heaps of garbage on the pavements and the stink is unbearable. “Cleanliness in the area was never a priority with the civic agency. Funds for the cleanliness of the area are never utilised. As for the contributions made by shopkeepers and office owners, theyareneversufficientasmanydo not pay up,” says Santosh Mohan, who works in an office here.

Adds Milind Galhotra, another shopkeeper, “The complex has been in a mess for a long time. As it is a commercial complex, there is no vote bank. So, the upkeep of the area is not on the priority list of the civic agency. As parking is a lucrative business, the parking cell is active. One can see that parking is allowed in almost every lane around the complex.”

There is no registered association in the area. A lot of people have tried to clear the pavements with their own efforts but to no avail.“It is waste of space and we are left to suffer. Some booths in the area are redundant. They should be removed because every inch of space is precious and can be put to some use,” says Sunita Kaula, an officegoer.

“I am not aware of the situation but will surely take corrective measures and get the area cleaned,” says AK Singh, sanitation officer, South Delhi Municipal Corporation.

Source-http://paper.hindustantimes.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Complaints, Parking