Absence of parking lot at Hall Gate spells chaos for residents

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, JULY 4

One just cannot stress enough on the importance of a planned parking lot these days. No matter what the place. The Gandhi Gate here, also popularly known as Hall Gate, is missing one badly.

The absence of a parking lot has stirred much hassle in the area as the markets inside the renowned place is a big attraction spot for the flocking tourists. Not only this, it is also largley used by the commuters as well. Due to such heavy footfall, many have no other alternative but to station their vehicles on roadside leading to frequent road congestions and traffic snarls.

Ranbir Singh, a shopkeeper, said, “Though the traffic police kept painting a yellow line intimating the motorists to park their vehicles not beyond it. At times the number of visitors swelled so much that they had to park their vehicles beyond the designated area.” He also stated that adequate number of employees of the police department were deployed and they keep gesturing and whistling at the violators. However, the high number of visitors outnumber them and it’s a bedlam out there.

Even as there is only one designated spot at the Kairon market people are forced to park their vehicles on the roadside as it offers uncovered parking space for vehicles. Due to the non-availability of one, commuters face heavy traffic jams in Hall Bazar and surrounding areas like Katra Jai Mal Singh, Katra Sher Singh and others. “Major markets of electronic goods, book shops, medicines, lifestyle items and readymade showrooms are situated inside the market,” said Satinder Singh, a visitor.

Interestingly, the Amritsar Smart City Limited (ASCL) had chalked out a plan to raise a multi-level car parking at the Kairon market years ago. But recurring delays in the execution of plan led to the revision of its cost under the Smart City project.

The officials of the ASCL revised its cost from Rs 18.24 crore to Rs 32 crore in the beginning of this year. As per its master plan, there would be a total of seven floors of parking, including, two underground slots.

Ravinder Kumar, a visitor, said, “As the Kairon market is situated in the middle of the Hall Gate and Katra Jail Mal Singh road leading to Gate Sikandari, the establishment of the parking lot will accommodate a large number of vehicles.”