A week later, there is no end to the chaos on Brigade Road

A week later, there is no end to the chaos on Brigade Road

PK Surendran. Bangalore

On June 26, DNA blew the whistle on the parking chaos on Brigade Road (It's fee-for-all parking at Brigade Road) and Commercial Street. A week later, nothing has changed. Chaos reigns supreme. There is disorder of the worst sort on Brigade Road after the well-run pay and park system was shut down following bureaucratic wranglings at the BBMP.
The pay and park system, country's first endeavour to bring order on shopping streets, began in 2004 at the initiative of the Brigade Road Shops & Establishments Association (BSEA). Its secretary Suhail Yusuf claims the credit for the system, which he says has been working perfectly well in many European metros. The system has many advantages. It helps business; it ensures smooth traffic and discourages loafing because it has a time limit, which, again, has the benefit of allowing more shoppers to come and shop. "1,600 four-wheelers used to be parked in 85 parking bases," says Yusuf.
The system was replicated in Hyderabad and Goa. Many dignitaries from overseas also praised the system. "It was a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) system with 60:40 revenue sharing between BSEA and BBMP. We bought the machines, maintained and operated which cost us a lot of money. True, our business improved, but nobody should grudge that," says Yusuf, his voice giving away a tone of sadness.
"We heard that former additional commissioner, S Puttaswamy complained we had not applied for license renewal after two years. It's false. I have the record which states we applied. But, even after the five-year license period was over, the BBMP sat tight, I don't know why. The result is for everybody to see," he says, throwing his hands in a sweeping motion at the vehicles parked pell-mell.
City's Traffic police officers agree the system worked well. And, former Bangalore police commissioner, HT Sangliana says when Yusuf brought the proposal, he had lauded it and recommended it. "It brought order on roads which are all that police ask for. It's unwise to discontinue."
DNA's effort to draw out Palike was only partially successful. BBMP's commissioner Bharat Lal Meena's answer was wishy-washy.
"Well, we are examining it. We'll do something about it. We may tender it."The question why the system was allowed to conk off and why citizens are put to misery are yet to be answered.