Usurping basement: Breach is a norm, not exception in MP Nagar

BHOPAL: The problem of basements meant for parking lot, but occupied by shopkeepers has assumed serious proportions in MP Nagar, the busiest business hub of Bhopal.
Almost every commercial cum residential complex in MP Nagar zone I and II have basement with no parking lots, forcing commuters to park vehicles on roads. This, needless to say, creates traffic jams on wide concrete roads of MP Nagar leaving hardly any place for pedestrian to walk.
However, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) is helpless. “Most of these shop owners have obtained stay from either the high court or the local courts. We have submitted our report on this issue in the courts as well. We are just hoping that the court vacates the stay and we can get into action as soon as possible,” BMC Rajneesh Shrivastava said.
There are more than 10,000 commercial establishments in more than 500 commercial buildings, including hotels, banks, shops and coaching classes in MP Nagar Zone I and II, a BMC official said.
As basements in buildings lack parking facilities and existing parking area just not enough, vehicles are parked haphazardly and springing up of illegal parking lots in the area, a shopkeeper rued.
“Majority of basements are being used by shopkeepers while many use these basements as godowns,” a shopkeeper said.
Interestingly, even big shopping complexes like Vishal mega mart and others lack sufficient parking space for their employees and customers to park their vehicles.
“There is a small parking space behind the building where the shopping mart is. It can hardly accommodate 10 four-wheelers. If the shops in the basement of this building are removed and converted into parking space, there would be enough space to park vehicles there. This would clear road for the traffic,” a shopkeeper said.
“We have a small parking space in the basement, which can be used by customers as well. The parking is basically meant for people working in the City Centre, but it can also be used by customers. We need some more space for parking especially during festival time, when we have more customers,” Sumit Rohira, assistant manager, Vishal mega mart said.
“Each of these commercial buildings can accommodate at least 10 four-wheelers and nearly 25 two- wheelers. This will completely solve the problem of parking and reduce traffic chaos here,” BMC officials said.