Illegal parking chokes Panchkula roads

Tribune News Service Panchkula, October 1 Illegal parking along roads and bylanes across the city has turned a nightmare for commuters and pedestrians. Though the Deputy Commissioner had recently called for strict action on the issue, the authorities concerned seem...

Tribune Web Desk

Updated At : 12:08 PM Oct 02, 2021 IST

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 1

Illegal parking along roads and bylanes across the city has turned a nightmare for commuters and pedestrians.

Though the Deputy Commissioner had recently called for strict action on the issue, the authorities concerned seem to be in no mood to act, resulting in violators having an upper hand.

At the District Road Safety Committee meeting on September 20, Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh had directed the traffic police to act tough against owners of vehicles parked illegally on the roadside that affect the flow of traffic. The offenders should be strictly challaned so that motorists did not face inconvenience, he had said, adding that parking spaces should be regularised.

Ambulances get stuck
There have been instances when the fire brigade and ambulances have failed to reach the spot or got delayed due to illegal parking on roads. — SK Nayar, president, Citizens Welfare Assn

The illegal parking not just affects commuters and the pedestrian movement but hampers emergency response.

“There have been instances when the fire brigade and ambulances have failed to reach the spot or got delayed due to illegal parking on roads,” SK Nayar, president of the Citizens Welfare Association. Nayar also spoke of how parking issues could be addressed if houses had enough parking spaces for owners.

“Most small houses do not have sufficient space for parking on their premises or outside, but own more than one car or motorcycle. Ultimately, owners have to park their vehicles on the roadside and they end up creating traffic congestion,” he said.

The parking spaces of the Sector 8, 9 and 10 markets are a prime example.

In these markets, commuters park their vehicles on the main road and footpaths despite sufficient parking space to avoid parking fee, which is Rs5 for a two-wheeler and Rs10 for a four-wheeler.

Inspector Bajinder Singh, SHO, Traffic (City), said, “We monitor all stretches in the city. If any vehicle is found in a no-parking zone, we tow it and challan the owner.”