Market welfare associations set an example

CHANDIGARH:At a time when the Municipal Corporation has doubled the vehicle parking charges on an hourly basis and is studying the feasibility to convert another 61 non-paid parking lots into paid ones, certain parking lots managed by the market welfare associations without any charges are setting an example.

A parking lot maintained by the Traders Welfare Association of Sector 19, Chandigarh. Photo: Pradeep Tewari

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 12

At a time when the Municipal Corporation has doubled the vehicle parking charges on an hourly basis and is studying the feasibility to convert another 61 non-paid parking lots into paid ones, certain parking lots managed by the market welfare associations without any charges are setting an example.

Despite paying money, issues like haphazard parking and a few attendants to guide motorists inside lots still persist at paid ones, while parking lots in Sectors 19 and 22 managed by the market welfare associations have better management without burning a hole in the common man’s pocket.

A visit to these parking lots reveals that the moment you enter inside till you exit, there are attendants to guide you. Not just at entry and exit points, even inside parking lots, there is always a man to guide you to park your vehicle amid huge rush of vehicles.

“We have five guards to manage the Sector 22 parking lot. We have been running it for the past about 12 to 15 years. Customers feel comfortable here. If the parking is full, a guard guides the motorists about no space inside,” said Vinod Talwar, who runs a leading jewellery store.

RD Manchanda, president of the Sector 19-C Market Welfare Association, said: “We started managing the parking lot as a good number of customers come here and we wanted to provide them a proper parking facility. We have four guards in the parking and you will never find haphazardly parked vehicles inside. They also tackle stubborn motorists calmly. I think more market associations should come forward.”

Following in their footsteps, the Sector 19-D Market Welfare Association has also started managing free parking in their area.

Charanjiv Singh, nominated councillor and a trader, said: “With such parking facilities, more customers visit markets. Others should also follow the suit.”

‘Hiked parking charges a loot’

The market welfare associations managing parking lots on their own felt the increase in charges is a loot. “When the rates for a car parking was Rs 5, then also things were working normally. You have now raised it to Rs 10 for the first four hours, fine. But, why charge on an hourly basis after every two hours. It is like looting the public,” said Manchanda.

The facilities

n A visit to these parking lots reveals that the moment you enter inside till you exit, there are attendants to guide you. Not just at the entry and exit points, even inside parking lots, there is always a man to guide you to park your vehicle amid a huge rush of vehicles.