Devotees face parking problem around Golden Temple as festival rush peaks

With the festive season at its peak, chaotic parking of vehicles around the Golden Temple is causing undue inconvenience to thousands of devotees and visitors, many of whom remain stranded for hours in search of a parking spot.

The limited parking space in the periphery of the shrine has led to long queues, traffic jams and frustration among pilgrims, who come from across the country to pay obeisance.

The main Saragarhi parking, the only largest facility near the Golden Temple, is often full to capacity, especially on weekends and festive days. Visitors complain that they have to wait for hours to park their vehicles, while many are forced to leave them on the roadside, adding to traffic congestion in the already crowded heritage zone. What makes matters worse is that a significant number of local traders and residents also park their vehicles inside the Saragarhi parking, reducing space for outstation visitors.

Adding to public’s woes, several illegal parking lots have mushroomed around the area. These unauthorised operators charge exorbitant fees from helpless devotees who have no alternative. “We were charged Rs 200 for two hours at an illegal parking near Gheo Madi Gate. The attendants said the main parking was full and we had no choice,” said Sandeep, a visitor from Delhi.

Rajinder Singh, another devotee from Ludhiana, said, “We come to the Golden Temple every year, but this time the parking problem is unbearable. There is no proper direction or help from the authorities. Families with elderly people and children are struggling to reach the shrine due to the chaos.”

Residents and shopkeepers in the area also complain that traffic congestion caused by roadside parking is affecting their businesses. “During the weekends, cars are parked along every inch of the road, blocking customers and deliveries. The administration must create a separate parking facility for local residents and traders,” said Harvinder Singh, a local trader near Heritage Street.

Despite repeated appeals, no concrete steps have been taken by the administration or the civic bodies to expand parking facilities around the Golden Temple. Urban planners have long suggested developing a multi-level parking structure but the proposals remain on paper.