21 roads in city declared as ‘no parking zones’: Min

Bhubaneswar: At least 21 major arteries were declared as no-parking zones, an assembly reply by housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra revealed on Tuesday.

The institutions located within those stretches have been asked to have their own parking facility. “In case they use some portion of the road for parking, they are required to pay an institutional parking fee to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC),” the reply read in response to a question by Bhubaneswar-Central MLA Ananta Narayan Jena.

Jena wanted to know which prominent roads are no-parking zones in the city and which institutions lie along these stretches. “Those institutions which do not have their own parking space are asked to pay a parking fee. The commuters who park their vehicles on the road, BMC along with police, tow those vehicles,” the reply said.

Among the prominent stretches which are designated as no-parking zones are Raj Bhawan via Jayadev Vihar up to Kalarahanga, Airport via Acharya Vihar to Nalco Square, Sishu Bhawan Square to Rajmahal, Rasulgarh to Jayadev Vihar and Sriya Square to PHEO office.

Earlier, BMC pointed out that haphazard parking of vehicles — both motorcycles and cars — in Bhubaneswar was a persistent issue which, apart from being an eyesore, led to traffic congestion. Barring the Janpath, where there is earmarked roadside space, at other places such as shopping malls, markets and offices, parking issues are a regular phenomenon.

For organised street parking, BMC in Dec last year floated a tender to auction at least 30 different stretches, including eight on Smart Janpath. The parking push was significant, with BMC receiving numerous complaints regarding erratic parking in residential areas, leading to the narrowing of the lanes. However, it failed to attract private parties.

BMC officials said both old and new parking spaces were included in the tender so that, once bidders participate, the contract will be signed. A thorough survey was conducted in different wards to regulate parking.