Parking area being expanded
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Oct 31 — Work on the expansion of the parking area is in progress at the Sector 16 shopping complex on the persistent demand of shopkeepers in the area. A decision to extend the area and create more parking space was taken by the Haryana Urban Development Authority.

While Sectors 7 and 11 are crowded in the evening, with little space for manoeuvering vehicles in the parking area, vehicle-owners contribute to the commotion with haphazard parking. Owing to cramped parking space, only a few get accommodated while the rest park vehicles on the roadside.

Mr Prem Garg opines, "Panchkula is an upcoming city and lots of development work is in progress. The authorities can alter plans and broaden parking according to the requirements. They cannot turn a blind eye to these indefinitely. Addressing these problems can go a long way in creating a better city."

In Sectors 8 and 9, there is a lot of parking space but is hardly used. Most of the shops hav strips for parking. Behind these shops, a large parking area lies unused.

Mr Paramvir Singh says, "When I can park my car in front of the shop I want to visit, why should I park my vehicle at one end and buying my things from the other? It is inconvenient." About the inconvenience caused to others, he adds, "It is for them to find space to get out of the mess. If they cannot, they have the option of using the big area made for the purpose. It is all at their disposal."

In Sector 7, youngsters zip around on motorcycles and scooters in the evening. The parking accentuates the problem.

Mr S.K. Malhotra says, "As soon as the sun goes down, the sector comes to life but we are confined to our houses. Despite wanting to go out, we cannot do so because somebody has parked his vehicle in front of our gate, blocking our driveway."

Ms Preeti Sharma contends, "I have told my friends not to visit me and I hardly go to visit them, especially during festivals and during days when the sector is bubbling with excitement. Mondays being lean days provide us with breathing space and socialising is limited to these days."

Mr BS Bhatti explains, "The police can tow away wrongly parked vehicles but no step has been taken in this direction. It will save everybody from wrong parking."

Residents feel the police is paying no heed to the parking menace. Shopkeepers plan to take up the demand of expansion of parking areas for their respective sectors. They contend that it will mean better business.

Culvert awaits repair
From Our Correspondent

DAIRI (Sohana), Oct 31 — Delay in construction of the only connecting culvert to about a dozen villages, which was washed away by a heavy rain, has led to resentment among the local residents.

The culvert, constructed on the seasonal nullah, was damaged during a heavy rain last year. Residents accuse the PWD authorities of using substandard material in the construction of the culvert and further delaying its repair.

As a result the residents have to opt for longer routes. Mr Jagdeep Singh, a farmer, said that the delay in the construction of the culvert had affected his business. We cannot go to the “apni mandi” to sell vegetables. Thus, it has decreased our source of income.”

In the absence of an alternative way, villagers have to make the longer detours. Mr Balpreet Singh of Manauli, who works in a workshop near Banur, said that he had to cover about 12 km to reach Sohana, via SAS Nagar, to catch a bus for his destination.

Chilla, Manauli and other villages are connected to Manauli and SAS Nagar through this culvert. Another resident of Manauli village said that they had to face several difficulties during the rainy season as the villages remained cut off.

Several teachers of government schools in the area demand immediate repair of the culvert. “Normally, we cross through the kutcha way and our vehicles get stuck on the way”.