Parking Chakkar 6: Jayanagar

Chaos, clamour reign supreme here
Times of India


The Jayanagar Fourth block complex — known to be one of the busiest commercial complexes in Bangalore — has for long been suffering from the parking malady. With an estimated 650 vehicles frequenting the complex every day, fighting for the available allotted space for approximately 250 vehicles, and the larger area around the complex demanding parking space for about 5,000 vehicles along the one-way traffic system, the beeline for parking is only getting chaotic by the day. From being the quietest residential hub with wide roads and beautiful tree-lined avenues then, to what it is today with several private ‘noparking’ boards in front of houses on the main and arterial roads around the complex, the image of Jayanagar has made a complete U-turn.

1 The hazards: Severe scarcity for parking in the allotted space of the shopping complex has forced vehicle-users to encroach the second, third, fourth and fifth arterial roads around the complex. Many residents often complain of vehicles being parked right in front of their gates, which have invariably ended in verbal duels. Police action is unconvincing, as they consider them to be petty complaints, residents say.
Vehicle owners complain of ‘parking mafia’ ruling the area. Vehicle owners frequenting certain shops and establishments manage to get parking space even in ‘noparking’ zones due to some nexus with the shop-keeper and the police, some allege. The police, however, have denied such allegations.
Haphazard parking by devotees frequenting the Ganesha temple in IV block affects regular vehicular and pedestrian movement.
Vehicles are also found to be parked illegally in the bus stand.

2 What Police Say:
Lack of parking space and wrong parking are the major problems traffic police here are dealing with. As a routine, additional traffic personnel are employed at several points around the busy complex area during weekends and public holidays.

3 Solution: Expedite the proposed two-tier parking system by BCC to accommodate over a thousand vehicles by relocating the
IV Block bus stand. Create parking space on the immediate bylanes attached to the complex and ban vehicular movement here.
Increase the tariff for the Pay - and - Park system on an hourly basis.

M.N. Sreehari, traffic expert
The planning should be futuristic. Jayanagar Shopping Complex is considered to be a central business district which demands multi-tier parking. A four-level parking system should be provided so as to accommodate 2,000 vehicles at least.