Lack of designated parking zones in Downtown irk commuters
Srinagar, Feb 2: Failure of authorities to create designated parking zones in Downtown is taking a heavy toll on traders and locals.
Downtown is one of the main business hubs and lack of parking is causing inconvenience to commuters, locals and traders alike.
“Amid lack of designated parking slots, people are forced to resort to parking of vehicles on roadsides. And what adds to their woes is the imposition of fines for wrong parking,” said Ghulam Ahmad, a commuter.
A resident, Moin Khan, shared his daily struggle with parking. “Due to narrow lanes in Downtown, people are forced to park their vehicles on the main road. This often leads to traffic jams because the roads are not wide enough. Parked vehicles frequently get scratched, and garbage is thrown near them. As a result, stray dogs and rats damage the vehicles,”
He further explained that sometimes people have to park in front of someone’s house. Later, they receive phone calls asking them to shift their vehicles.
“Recently, I parked my car on the roadside. A person came to my house and told me to move it saying it was his place. But the road does not belong to anyone. This has become a daily problem, and we are very distressed,” he said.
The lack of proper parking facilities has become a major issue for Downtown residents. Locals expressed hope that the government will take action and provide a proper parking facility or a good alternative soon.
Another major reason behind the crisis is narrowing of roads. Under the Smart City project, many footpaths have been widened. This has reduced the width of roads, leaving less space for traffic and parking. At busy three-way and four-way crossings, traffic congestion has increased. To control this, roads have been diverted, forcing people to take longer routes. This has increased travel time and fuel costs.
Earlier, roads were wider, and vehicles could be parked without causing major problems. Now, even one wrongly parked vehicle can lead to traffic jams. Because of this, the police do not allow parking on main roads anymore.
According to a local commuter Ghulam Mohidiuddin of Nowhatta, traffic has increased many times in recent years. “Earlier, traffic was not so heavy. Today, almost everyone owns vehicles. Transport has increased nearly ten times. While roads in some areas have been widened, it is very difficult to do so in Downtown because of the high population and dense buildings,” he said.
Widening roads would require shifting houses and shops, which would take a lot of time and money. Due to limited space, the government is unable to build large parking facilities, and smooth traffic movement remains a challenge.
Local shoppers shared their experience. “I came by auto-rickshaw. Even before I got down, the driver was told not to stop here. If he stayed for one minute, traffic would stop. Many auto drivers refuse to park near shops because there is no place to stop. This is the reason I mostly prefer local shops in my area,” said Abdul Hamid, a commuter.
Nazir Ahmad Shah, President, Shaher-e-Khaas Traders Alliance, said lack of parking is severely affecting their business. “ The revival of Downtown markets depends on removing physical obstructions and creating space for smoother traffic flow. The congestion due to lack of parking has become so frustrating, and even loyal customers from far-off areas are being pushed away in the absence of parking slots,” Shah said.
“This is a historic market, and people come here not only to shop but to visit revered shrines. But with growing urban demands, people now expect easy vehicular access, which we lack. We had long ago identified land for setting up parking slots; however, it seems authorities are not interested in developing infrastructure in Downtown,” Shah said.
By: Neha Nazir
