Parking Chakkar 7: Koramangala

Vehicles are parked on both sides of the road on Koramangala’s 17th Main though there is a No-Parking sign on one side

KORAMANGALA
Madding crowds are here to stay
Times of India

Koramangala: Only six traffic constables man the eight blocks and numerous cross roads of Koramangala. Little wonder then, that no action is taken against those who break rules — like parking wherever and whenever, though parking is allowed only on one side of the road.
Traffic chaos results, an obvious metaphor of what Koramangala has been reduced to. Apart from 80 Feet Road and 100 Feet Road, all the other roads are either 30 or 40 feet wide, and parking on both sides shrinks them further.

1 The scenario:
Market area of 6th Block has no provision for parking. Vehicles spill into surrounding bylanes.
Shops and eateries have mushroomed, leading to parking in ‘No Parking’ zones, double parking and on both sides of the lane.
Koramangala, once residential, now has offices, malls, boutiques, software complexes, packaging units, fancy restaurants and watering holes. But no parking space.
People end up parking on roads and pavements, leading to traffic jams.
Some roads, like the one behind Jyoti Nivas College, are being used exclusively for parking.

2 People’s voice:
The place is not only getting more commercialised, but is also slowly dying. There is no zoning; you get up each day and see a pile of cars outside. — Rita Goel.
Buses also roll by and when they turn, everything is a near miss. — Viswanath Kashyap.

3 Any solutions?
Strict parking rules need to be adhered to and those violating them should be fined.
More traffic policemen on patrol duty needed.
Public or mass transport offering home-to-office pick-up and drop service should be encouraged for employees of the many software companies.

EXPERT OPINION
B.H. Sanjeev Kumar,
Traffic expert
There is no proper traffic planning in Koramangala. Alternative parking facility can be worked out with the BMTC — after the buses move out in the morning from the 80 Feet bus depot, private vehicles can occupy the station for parking.

YOUR VOICE / JAYANAGAR COMPLEX
Here are readers’ suggestions on providing parking space.

Multi-level parking:
Jayanagar Complex should have a multi-level hydraulic parking system wherein vehicles can be parked one above the other. Parking fee collected can be paid to the operators. — Gururaj, Bangalore.

Use basement space:
Basement parking in the multi-storeyed buildings must be used only for parking purposes. BCC should make it mandatory for builders to leave the basement for parking. — Ramamurthy, Jayanagar III Block.