Traders meet Mayor, oppose paid parking proposal

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 19

A delegation of the Punjab Pradesh Vyapar Mandal met Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu and expressed their disapproval over the proposed paid parking at the Hall Bazaar and Beri Gate. Shopkeepers said the Municipal Corporation (MC) should take other steps to address the traffic issue instead of imposing paid parking in markets.

Responding to them, Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu said the objective of paid parking was not only to collect revenue, but also to streamline the traffic. “People park vehicles haphazardly, which leads to traffic jams on roads. We have chosen only those markets, where commuters face routine traffic jams due to haphazard parking. Contractors will charge nominal for managing the parking lots,” the Mayor said.

Shopkeepers expressed their fear that after the implementation of paid parking, people would avoid visiting markets.

Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu also asked traders to give him any solution, if any, to manage the traffic without paid parking system. The associations of shopkeepers have been asked to submit their suggestions within 15 days to address the traffic issue.

Pyara Lal, president of Punjab Pardesh Vyapar Mandal, along with Sameer Jain, Ranjan Aggarwal and Billu Jain were present during the meeting.

The MC had invited contractors for parking lots’ auction, but it was cancelled in the wake of bypolls in two wards and imposition of the election code of conduct.