No parking fee but where’s parking space?

No parking fee but where’s parking space?
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Even as the motorists were rejoicing Bangalore City Corporation’s (BCC) decision to withdraw the pay and parking system, the city police have resorted to covert many parking lots into ‘No Parking’ zones. With the result the woes of motorists have increased as they are finding it difficult to park vehicles.

Recently, Traffic Police withdrew the parking lots on Hosur Road and Old Madras Road. The parking on MG Road, Brigade Road and St Mark’s Road has been restricted to parallel parking, thus reducing the capacity.

BCC Special Commissioner Subhash Chandra told this paper that the civic body has no say in this regard. He explains: ‘‘Parking lots are decided by the city police. We used to give parking contracts where the police allowed. Police looks after the traffic management. Free parking and cancellation of parking lots are two different issues.’’

Mayor R. Narayanaswamy too expressed helplessness. ‘‘I only hope that these changes would not inconvenience the motorists,’’ he said.

The police, however, is firm on its move. DCP Traffic (East) M.A.Salim said that no road in the city is designed for roadside parking.

He said: ‘‘Roads are for driving and not for parking.

The width of city roads is same since 1976 when only one lakh vehicles used them. Now more than 21 lakh vehicles are plying. We are against roadside parking. People should use multilevel parking systems and help us decongest the roads.’’ A motorist said that the previous system of pay and park was much better as he was able to find a parking space, even though he had to pay.