Multi-level parking, a distant dream

BHOPAL: As a large number of motorists jostle for space at parking lots at public places in the state capital the concept of multi-level parking is still a pipe dream. Bhopal Municipal Corporation that had earmarked Rs 5 crore for the purpose in its budget last year has now passed the buck to Town and Country Planning (TNCP) for the delay in starting work on the project.
There are almost 8.5 lakh vehicles - two three and four wheelers- in the city and more are added every day. Vehicle parking has become a problem for shopping hubs like the New Market, MP Nagar, different localities of Arera Colony, Shivaji Nagar and BHEL township.
City-chief engineer Sunil Shrivastav told TOI, "Work for constructing multi-level parking is in progress at Moti Masjid and Ibrahimpura. Various sites have been identified for the construction of multi-level parking in other parts of Bhopal, but we are awaiting clearance from Town and Country Planning department," he added.
At present, BMC leases out open space along roadsides for parking which hinder free movement of traffic.
The delay in expanding facility and constructing up multi-level parking is forcing commuters to suffer. The situation is very bad in places like New Market where one has to think twice before visiting.
"The road patch opposite the TT police station along SBI branch is full of parked vehicles leading to a chaos any time of the day," said Santosh Chouhan, a visitor adding, "These days I think twice before coming to New Market on own vehicle."
Rohit Jain a shopkeeper at Jyoti Talkies in MP Nagar said, "People park their vehicles wherever they wish blocking traffic and get away with it."
Ishita Khandelwal a commuter said, "Vehicle owners have to face problems because of the negligence of administration and the BMC. People park their vehicles on roads because there are hardly any dedicated parking lots and those that are earmarked hardly have the capacity to bear the ever increasing number of vehicles.It is a double whammy for those commuting by own vehicles- one that have to park vehicles at unsafe places and second have to pay fine as and when the traffic police makes a challan for wrong parking."
Rachit Shrivastav a commuter said, "Parking is a major problem in the city which is not being given due attention by the planners".