Cops launch chase-&-challan drive to stop illegal parking in front of Grand Arcade

Kolkata: Not just hawkers, the illegal parking syndicate has goobled up prime pavement space near New Market as well, with two-wheelers, commercial and private vehicles occupying walkways and blocking the right of way for both motorists and pedestrians even along the busy JL Nehru Road, beside Grand Hotel and Lindsay Street. Prodded by the Lalbazar brass, the South Traffic Guard on Tuesday launched a drive to remove illegal double-lane parking in front of the Grand Arcade and covering the stretch past Lindsay Street to the Park Street flyover approach.However, cops on the ground acknowledge that problems persist. While rallies often lead to cops getting busy on other daily traffic duties, the problem becomes acute after dark when the number of traffic cops reduces on the ground.
The past 24 hours saw sergeants, led by an additional OC, chasing the cabs that try to block the road. Cops said as many as 64 cabbies and taxis, along with some two-wheelers and a few private cars, were issued challans for illegal parking. The cops also used wreckers to tow away vehicles."This is a sustained campaign. However, for things to change, we need to keep the pressure on the ground through chase and challan. With limited strength, we plan to go big with surprise checks," said a senior officer.On Tuesday evening, not a single vehicle was found parked on the Grand Hotel side, taking several regulars by surprise. "It was a pleasant surprise to see the Grand Arcade without its share of parked cars. JL Nehru moved smoothly despite a political protest nearby. However, I would observe for a few more days before making any comment," Supriya Majumdar, who has his office on CR Avenue, said on Tuesday evening.Keen to crack down on illegally parked vehicles, traffic cops on Tuesday also sought a go-ahead from Lalbazar to revive the use of clamping machines to lock the wheels, a process often used at key roads like Camac Street, Park Street and APC Road. Cops said they also issued over 2,000 parking tickets, 904 of them between New Market and Exide along Chowringhee Road in the past month. Traffic and local police removed several cars parked even inside New Market. The police have also restricted slow-moving vehicles on Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, except for cross movement.