Traders protest, say no to paid parking at Hall Bazaar

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 19

Shopkeepers and traders’ associations staged a protest against paid parking at Hall Bazaar here on Saturday. The traders had been opposing the move since long. Recently the MC had allotted the contract through e-auction to a private contractor.

Shopkeepers and a local councillor were leading the protest and blocked the road. They expressed their disapproval over the paid parking at Hall Bazaar and Beri Gate. Shopkeepers said the MC should take other steps to address the traffic issue instead of imposing paid parking in markets. Shopkeepers expressed their fear that after the implementation of paid parking, people would avoid visiting markets.

Pyara Lal, president, Punjab Pardesh Vyapar Mandal, said, “We have suggested Mayor Karmajit Singh Rintu to construct multi-storey parking lots proposed under the Smart City project. There is no need to charge for parking in the market”. Estate Officer Sushant Bhatia 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 fee for managing the parking lots, he added.

Meanwhile, residents of the area said to address the issue of traffic jam in Hall Bazaar, the entry of four- wheelers should be restricted.

Sandip Singh, a resident of Focal Point, said, “Most of the western countries not allow four-wheelers in old narrow streets of old cities. The Hall Bazaar should be declared vehicle-free zone as it is being preserved by the authorities as a heritage market. The parking issue should be addressed at the earliest, he added.