Parking rogues in commercial hubs leads to traffic chaos in Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur, June 7: Administration is acting against road hogs but turning a blind eye to parking rogues in commercial hubs. This is evident in the recent drives carried out for nearly a week jointly by the civil administration and police in Sakchi, wherein fines have been levied against shopkeepers for encroaching on roads and structures demolished, however, parking rogues have surprisingly been spared so far.  

“The real reason for traffic congestion in the major commercial hubs like Sakchi is irresponsible parking virtually on the road which reduces the width of the artery and in the process causes traffic congestion. People do not park their vehicles in the designated parking bays but prefer to park near the shops creating traffic snarls and mishap threats on busy commercial hubs. Today morning I was bringing my daughter from school and was stuck in a traffic jam on the Straight Mile Road stretch through Sakchi market and delayed by nearly 40 minutes in reaching home. Almost throughout the day vehicles, mostly two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws can be seen parked on both sides of the road,” said Madhumita Sanyal, a Sitaramdera-based homemaker who brings her third grader daughter to and fro from school on a bike (scooty).

  Elderly pedestrians face serious threats due to illegal parking. “Due to illegal parking on both sides of the road there is no space for pedestrians. We have to walk on the road and fear being dashed by vehicles. I received an injury on my right wrist, had my shirt sleeves torn and suffered bruises yesterday while negotiating the Straight Mile Road stretch as an auto-rickshaw dashed me from behind. The driver stopped the vehicle and apologized citing the lack of space on the road and left me near a medicine shop for first aid,” said 65-year-old Prakash Shaw, a retired bank employee and a resident of Baradwari.

 Incidentally, Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) along with help from Sakchi police have been carrying out a drive in different parts of Sakchi against shopkeepers who had encroached by putting up illegal extensions on the road for nearly a week. Today, too a drive was carried out amidst heavy police bandobast at Milkhiram Market Road in Sakchi wherein encroached structures were demolished and fines levied on shopkeepers (between Rs 2,000 and 5,000 based on size of extension).

 However, barely 50 meters from the drive, long stretches of illegally parked vehicles could be seen parked in front of Mansarovar Hotel, Straight Mile Road, Basant Talkies Lane, Sakchi roundabout, Thakurbari Road, Tank Road and other stretches of Sakchi Market.

 Traders too feel that the administration should take action against illegal parking along with encroachers.