Govt parking lots lie vacant as roadside parking chokes Dehradun

Dehradun: Several govt-developed paid parking facilities in Dehradun remain underutilised despite growing traffic congestion and an acute shortage of parking space across the city. Residents and activists blame poor planning, inadequate signage, pricing concerns and weak enforcement for preventing these facilities from serving their intended purpose.A visit by TOI to the parking facility opposite Gate No. 7 of the Tibetan Market found only around 20 cars parked there despite a capacity of more than 130 vehicles. Many motorists continued to leave their vehicles on nearby roadsides. “People park on the road beside the market, nobody is penalised and it is more convenient. Many do not even know there is a parking facility here,” said a passerby.At Parade Ground, a parking lot with a capacity of nearly 100 vehicles had only three to four vehicles parked for much of the day. Vinod Kumar Sharma, a guard at the site, said many motorists preferred parking inside the ground during events as they could pay a flat fee and keep their vehicles there until late at night.The three-level underground parking facility near Clock Tower, capable of accommodating more than 400 cars, also sees limited use. “Paying Rs 50 even for a five- or 10-minute stop does not make sense to many people, so they continue parking wherever space is available on the road,” said shopper Sandeep Tikku.A restaurant owner at Astley Hall said the multi-level parking facility at the Parade ground often ends up adding to congestion rather than easing it. “Vehicles parked on the upper levels take time to retrieve. During peak hours, cars queue outside the entrance, creating a bottleneck on an already busy road,” he said.The underuse of these facilities comes despite a sharp rise in the number of vehicles on city roads. Transport department data shows Dehradun district has 7.74 lakh registered two-wheelers, 3.12 lakh private four-wheelers and more than 20,000 commercial four-wheelers.Activist Anoop Nautiyal said the city’s parking projects suffer from poor implementation. “There is no visibility for these parking facilities and nobody is there to guide motorists. Projects need to be planned from start to finish. Otherwise, they become white elephants and eventually turn into neglected assets,” he said.Residents have also raised concerns about paid roadside parking in parts of the city, saying vehicles entering and exiting parking spaces frequently disrupt traffic movement. A visitor to the MDDA complex said pedestrians are often forced onto the road because parked vehicles occupy available space.Limited parking capacity remains a challenge at some locations. At Coronation Hospital, available parking facilities are unable to accommodate the large number of staff members, patients and visitors who arrive daily. “People still have to park outside, adding to congestion,” hospital PRO Pramod Pawar said.Road Safety and Enforcement RTO Anita Chamola said greater efforts are needed to improve the utilisation of govt parking facilities. “There is a need to work on both enforcement and signage so that people are encouraged to use designated parking spaces,” she said.Chamola added that staff deployed at parking sites should actively assist motorists and that clear signboards displaying parking rates should be installed. She said the city also needs to develop a stronger civic sense around parking, as many motorists remain unwilling to pay for designated facilities.