From free parking to parking-free City

From free parking to parking-free City
Deccan Herald

The new-found obsession of the traffic police authorities is the steady withdrawal of parking lots. All this in the name of promoting public transport.

The journey from ‘free parking’ to ‘parking free’ in Bangalore might turn out to be a short one. The traffic police’ latest interest seems to be the steady withdrawal of parking lots in the City. In fact, the plan, which may sound shocking, has already creeped onto the streets.

The plan was first initiated in December last on Hosur Road, where parking was removed from the entire stretch between Vellara Junction to Electronic City. This was closely followed by the inner and outer ring roads, also introduced in December. Old Madras Road and Airport Road, from IASC Centre to HAL, shortly joined the group.

Then came an innovative parking concept in January that did draw some flak and frowns - parallel parking. The birth pangs of this system was a little drawn out but it steadily found acceptability. Presently, the traffic police has enforced parallel parking on all major commercial hubs, including M G Road, Infantry Road, Brigade Road, St Mark’s Road, Commercial Street, Resthouse Road and Residency Road.

In the last three months, major roads saw the removal of parking space. Commercial hotspot Avenue Road saw the end of parking. Last week, parking was removed in certain stretches on Brigade Road and M G Road, from Trinity Circle to Webb’s junction.

From June 1, the plan was inducted into the department’s ambitious Safe Way to School project, making areas around schools into no parking, no stoppage schools.

However, the objective is to remove private cars off the roads, while retaining parking facilities for two-wheelers, claims M A Saleem, DCP (Traffic-East). Alternate parking lots will be given for motorists, he explains. “Future withdrawal of parking of spaces will be made depending on the commuter complaints and identified areas of congestion,” says Saleem.

The entire ‘decongestion’ exercise is being conducted with the view of promoting public transport. “While the idea may sound uncomfortable, it is the only way we can reduce congestion on the roads. But public transport service must be offered to the public to avoid inconvenience. Also, the monopoly of the BMTC must be broken, allowing private players to move in and presenting competitive solutions,” says Muralidharan Rao, co-chairman of the Commuter Comfort Task Force.

As for the traffic police, they have no apologies to make. “The roads are meant for driving. Parking is only a privilege, not a right,” says Saleem.