Wrong parking hits vehicular movement in Srinagar

Srinagar, Dec 5: The lack of sufficient parking zones in Srinagar city, particularly in the city centre and the congested Downtown, continues to take a heavy toll on commuters and traders.

Commuters said that the limited parking spaces are unable to cater to the huge number of vehicles entering the city every day. They said as a result, roadside parking has turned into a chronic headache. Lanes such as Lambert Lane, Abi Guzar Market, SBI Lane and several link roads in the city centre remain choked with haphazardly parked vehicles, further narrowing the already congested roads.

“Every day, it takes me more than half an hour just to cross these lanes because of vehicles parked on both sides. There is no space left for smooth traffic movement, and we commuters are the ones suffering,” said Kaiser Ahmad, a daily commuter.

They said the problem is even more severe in Downtown Srinagar, which is the historical business hub of the city. Commuters said that with no dedicated parking facilities, famous markets such as Bohri Kadal, Nowhatta and Maharaj Gunj remain overwhelmed by roadside parking. They said the choking congestion has not only disrupted traffic flow but also discouraged shoppers from visiting these traditional bazaars.

“I avoid going to Maharaj Gunj nowadays. It’s impossible to find a parking space, and the roads are so jammed that shopping there has become a nightmare. It is easier to go to newer markets with better facilities,” said Shafia, a local shopper.

Officials admit that while the Smart City Mission has undertaken several projects to improve drainage, roads, and pathways, the critical issue of parking has remained unaddressed. A senior official told Greater Kashmir that land scarcity in downtown has stalled several proposed projects.

“We are aware of the problem and keen to create parking facilities, but the lack of available land has been the biggest hurdle,” the official said.

Urban planning experts argue that the issue goes beyond just finding land for parking. They say Srinagar’s urban growth has been flawed due to poor planning and a lack of an efficient public transport system, forcing people to rely excessively on private vehicles.

In an exclusive conversation with Greater Kashmir, senior town planning expert Hammid Ahmad Wani said the city is paying the price for ignoring decentralisation in its development plans.

“In all major master plans for Srinagar, there has been very little focus on decentralisation. Excessive pressure has been allowed to build on places like Lal Chowk and Downtown, and now we are at a stage where we cannot even identify land for parking,” Wani said.

He added that the parking crisis cannot be solved by simply creating more parking lots. “Even if we build parking spaces now, it won’t solve Srinagar’s traffic mess. What we need are serious steps, including decentralisation and strengthening of public transport, to ease the pressure on the core city areas.”