Chickpet has been subjected to traffic congestion as illegally parked vehicles overtake the roads.
By Riya Sharma
Two-wheelers parked illegally on the roadsides in the Chickpet main market area, narrow the width of the road, leaving very little room for the traffic to pass. This has led to major congestion in the area.
Murthi, Station Head at the City Market Traffic Police Station in the Chickpet area said, “The vehicles are parked illegally in large numbers because it’s a market area. There is also a Sunday-Market every week which brings in a lot of extra vehicles. We avoid levying fines because a lot of people commute from different parts of the city to shop at the market and there is not enough parking space to accommodate so many vehicles.”
Ghouse Pasha, a market regular who was on foot, said, “Sundays witness major congestion but the situation on weekdays isn’t that different either.”
The Bangalore Traffic Police (BTP) said that around 30 vehicles were fined or towed away every day before the fines were hiked from Rs 750 to Rs 1650. The Station Head further said, “We show leniency as the commuters are from other parts of the city and not everyone can afford to pay the fines, so, the number of vehicles we tow away has also come down. We give three warnings to the offenders in a day, by calling and informing them before towing away the vehicle. ”
A local saree shop owner, Prashanth, said, “The two-wheelers parked on the roadsides are hardly ever fined or towed away. They stay parked the entire day, all days of the week.”
Mahavir, a regular in the area, often parks his two-wheeler in the market. He said, “There is nowhere else to park. If people are provided with a parking space, they will happily pay and park there. There is just no space.”
He also said that the parked vehicles belong to the shop-owners in the area and the customers as there are no allotted parking spaces in the buildings.
Prof. M N Sreehari, advisor to Government of Karnataka in Traffic, Transportation & Infrastructure, said, “The roads are meant for the traffic to pass and under no situation should vehicles be allowed to be parked on the roadsides.”
He said, “This issue is a camouflaged thing between the Bangalore Traffic Police (BTP) and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).” He explained that both departments are responsible for maintaining order on the roads and each department blames the other when confronted about the issues and it becomes a blame game.
He added, “The Bangalore Traffic Police is only the enforcement force while the BBMP is the owner/manager of the roads. It is the BBMP’s responsibility to make sure that every building approved by the BBMP has a parking place.”
Blaming the lack of parking space in Chickpet for the congestion, he said, “In crowded market areas like Chickpet, Upparpet, etc., the parking space in buildings is usually underground. The shopkeepers either use them as storage or rent them out and consequently, people start parking on the roadsides, being devoid of any parking area.”
BBMP Executive Engineer of the Chickpet area, Mr. Valu Ratud said that the ward engineers monitor the area and if the parking spaces are not used for parking purposes, notices are issued to the building owners to rectify it.
According to the Head of the City Market Traffic Police Station, the BTP has asked the BBMP to provide paid parking spaces to decongest the area.
Professor Sreehari pointed out that adopting off-street parking methods and developing MLCP (Multi-Level Car Parking) can provide a solution to the congestion situation. He said, “A common area of 30X40 feet owned by the BBMP can be converted into an MLCP building. These MLCP buildings would be paid parking areas which take up space vertically and the revenues collected from these can be used to cover up the infrastructure cost that the BBMP would spend in developing them.”
Mr. Ratud said, “Market Cell unit under the BBMP is actively looking for common areas to set up new parking spaces in the city.”
This is a real issue nowadays.. and not just in Bangalore, in Delhi too..!! People park anywhere on the road without realizing that it may cause problem to the moving traffic. Very well written article.
I’m glad you liked the news story. Thank you so much for your support. Means a lot!
Great work, Riya. Loved the article. Way to go 🙂
Yes, this is a major issue in most parts of Bangalore. It is difficult for people also to roam around or to enter in any shop as there is no space to enter because of scooty and bikes.
Your first story :)) Many more to go dude ❤️
Illegal parking in the area is a big problem. Solution is required earliest. The author explained the situation very well. Someone have to take its responsibility and solve the problem.
Good initiative to bring attention of government officials and local bodies to the problem faced by the people. The solution proposed to the parking problem can be implemented easily.
Well done bro 🙂 Many more to come ❤️
Hi Riya, I read the article. Very well framed, putting across the views of the concerned, practical problems faced and possible solutions.
All the best.
Keep it up. Its beginning only.All the best champ
An amazing article. A great selection of words that can’t let your attention stray away.
Such issues should always be the highlight and you made sure of that!! Great mind at work 🙂
Good Job Riya Sharma
Great article Riya! All the very best.!
Amazing article! All the best Riya !
Author has done her research thoroughly and put in relevant examples to enlighten the readers & authorities regarding the grave traffic scenario in Chickpet. Keep up the good work.
You have chosen appropriate topic regarding parking issues. Very well written .
Sometimes this multiple level of parking system doesn’t work … I face this problem in kalka ji New Delhi. Until unless people are willing to use this type of parking space . They want to save few money and escape themselves by using this type of parking space.
Great work Riya. Keep it up.
Not only in bangalore but many cities of India are facing this problem. This is a serious to be highlighted. Great work!
Superb journalism
So well put Riya. An issue like this needs to be addresed earliest.
Way to go.
All the best. 🙂
So well put Riya. An issue like this needs to be addressed earliest.
Way to go.
All the best. 🙂
The issue raised by you is mostly faced by all the metropolitan city of nation .Great research done by you including the talk with city officials shows the seriousness of the work ✌
Keep up the work
Good job well done . I appreciate you go ahead
The cities in India are highly congested and on top of that the parked cars claim a lot of space that could otherwise be used in a better way. Very well written article riya.. Great research done by you in this field.
Keep up the good work … wonderful article.
Its really a major issue nowadays. Very well written article riya.. Great research done by you in this field.
Keep up the good work … wonderful article.
Its really a major issue now a days…even everywhere in India. People park there vehicles anywhere on the road without realising its consequences
Very well written article riya….god bless u
Keep up the good work…carry on
Much needed one.
Way to go Riya!
Good movement Riya….for illegal parking every day in every city..,..keep it up
This aspect of traffic is the most neglected and several steps should be taken to resolve it at the earliest.
Good job Riya. Very well written article. Every detail is beautifully explained.
Very well written. Good job.
Wish you all the best for your future Ms.Writer
Amazing Work ! Keep it up.
Amazing article!
Good research skills!
Nice story.. Illegal parking is a serious problem.