Open house: What steps should Market Associations take to smoothly run unmanned parkings in Chandigarh

Depute at least one security guard

It is a good step of the Municipal Corporation to permit market welfare associations manage parking lots. The associations should keep parkings clean. They should deploy at least one guard to make sure that vehicles are parked in an orderly manner and are safe. Sometimes haphazardly parked two-wheelers occupy much space. Separate places should be earmarked for parking two and four-wheelers. Owners of shops should voluntarily park their vehicles at some distance. This will help visitors park their vehicles easily.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

---

Assistants for valet parking

Inner markets of Chandigarh have parking space constraints. So, market associations could deploy assistants for a valet parking. This will ensure that there is no haphazard parking in lots and visitors enter into no brawls.

Sapna Sharda, Chandigarh

---

Install CCTV cameras in parking area

There certain market associations, which keep marshals to help visitors park their vehicles properly. This service is missing in paid parkings. Market associations can install CCTV cameras in the parking area and issue token to visitors. A sealed glass box can be kept at the parking entrance to give a ‘tip’ to the staff maintaining parking lots. Associations can also provide cleaners, who can wash cars, if any visitors desires.

Capt Amar Jeet (retd), Mohali

---

Earmark parking space for vehicles

Market welfare associations must hire attendants for proper parking and security of vehicles in parking lots maintained by them. There should be proper markings for parking of two and four-wheelers to avoid haphazard parking. Proper lighting should be provided in lots. CCTV cameras must be installed in parkings.

Dr HS Dhanoa, Chandigarh

---

Learn from shortcomings

After getting a green signal from the MC to operate internal market parking lots on the V4 roads free of cost, the onus lies on respective market welfare associations to make sure that unmanned parking areas are run smoothly and responsibly. Associations must ensure that cars are not parked haphazardly in parkings. They should learn from strengths and shortcomings of internal parking lots in Sector 19 and 22, which are already being run free of cost by their respective market associations.

Simran Sidhu, Chandigarh

---

A welcome step by civic body

The Municipal Corporation has allowed free parking in inner markets of Chandigarh. This is a welcome step taken by the civic body. Now, it is responsibility of market welfare associations to operate and maintain parking lots. Sign boards should be installed for parking vehicles at proper place in lots. Separate parking space should be provided for two and four-wheelers in lots. Guards should be deployed in parkings to help visitors’ park vehicles in lots. CCTV cameras can be also installed for proper management of parked vehicles. It will help preventing stealing of vehicles.

Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali

---

Proper plan needed to operate parkings

Any voluntary compliance of much needed disciplined parking in City Beautiful’s proposed lots to be operated by market welfare associations seems a distinct possibility. It would require some concerted and astute action plan to deal with emerging situation. First of all, entry/exit points of parkings ought to be properly regulated. Needless to say, nice looking provision of ‘free’ parking may prove counterproductive if not handled properly. Installation of CCTV cameras becomes all the more necessary if parking lots are unmanned.

Vinayak G, Panchkula

---

Traders can share maintenance cost

The decision of Chandigarh MC to allow market welfare associations operate inner parking lots free of cost deserves praise. Associations must utilise this opportunity for benefits of customers and shopkeepers. There should be proper demarcation for parking two and four-wheelers in lots. Any person parking his/her vehicle outside the marked area should be fined Rs200 for two-wheeler and Rs500 for four- wheeler. CCTV cameras can help in checking haphazard parking of vehicles. Parking lots must be clean all the times. Shopkeepers of the market concerned can share maintenance cost of parkings.

AK Jindal, Patiala

---

Display signboards to guide visitors

It’s a good news for visitors to avail free parking. Market associations of Chandigarh should display signboards to guide visitors to park their vehicles systematically. At the same time, association members must ensure that vehicles are parked properly. If any adamant driver does not obey rules the association president should approach him/her and aks to park vehicle in a proper manner otherwise leave the market place. Let us hope that this system works well.

MR Bhateja, Nayagaon

---

Keep parking lots clean

This is a welcome step by the MC to give rights to operate parking lots of inner market to market associations. Now, associations can run lots according to their requirements. Market associations can provide valet service for senior citizens, physically challenged and women. Also marking of parking area is to be done properly. Smart automated parking systems can also be installed in lots with monetary help from the MC to ensure smooth running without manpower. Maintaining cleanliness of markets and parking lots is must to attract customers.

Vineet Gandhi, Chandigarh

---

Relief for city vehicle owners

Due to limited parking space in inner markets vehicle owners, who are mostly senior citizens or women for whom walking even short distances is not convenient, face difficulties. Market associations must ensure that vehicles are parked properly in front of each shop. Associations should deploy helpers to ensure smooth entry and exit of vehicles. Well bodied car owners should avoid using four-wheelers if market is nearby from their place. This will reduce vehicle congestion in inner markets.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

---

Young volunteers can help visitors

It is a good step of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to allow market welfare associations operate inner market parking lots free of cost. This will not only save customers from paying parking fee, but also increase sale of shopkeepers. It is the first and the foremost duty of customers to make use of parking lots efficiently. They must park their vehicles in a proper manner. Associations can hire a guard to regulate parking. At the peak hours, Sundays and other holidays, young volunteers should come forward to help people park their vehicles in such lots. The police can also help drivers park their vehicles in inner markets.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Sangrur

---

Proper demarcation of lots for vehicles

Market associations have vested interest in running parkings of internal markets. Customers like to park their vehicles where there get free parking space, which is safe and without any congestion. Associations should appoint guards to manage parking in internal markets. There should be proper demarcation of parking space for two and four wheelers. A slip system should be introduced to regulate and count vehicles in parkings.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

---

Don’t park vehicles haphazardly

Market associations themselves need to clear encroachments in parkings to reduce vehicle congestion. Associations should mark separate zones for parking two and four-wheelers. Normally, residents park their vehicles in haphazardly in inner markets as they are in hurry. Market associations can maintain parking fund to recruit guards, who can help visitors park their vehicles in lots.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

---

MC decision may help residents

The permission for manning inner parking lots in markets given by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation may prove beneficial for both the Administration and business houses. Free parking might increase customer footfall in markets. Market associations should hire dedicated staff for manning lots for the convenience of customers. The MC should issue guidelines for maintaining parking lots. The MC can also take feedback from commuters about their experience in inner parkings of markets.

Wg Cdr (DR) JS Minhas (retd), Mohali

---

MC failed to operate parking lots smoothly

Till date Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has failed to smoothly operate parking lots through contractors in the city. All its parking contracts ended in legal disputes. In many markets like Sector 22-D, market welfare associations are operating parking lots without charging any parking fee in a disciplined manner. Market welfare associations have much more in stake as convenience of their valued customers is important. They hire security guards, who guide drivers for safe and smooth parking. They not only maintain parking lots, but also control rowdy elements. Parking lots operated by market associations are better maintained. Office-bearers of market welfare associations will have to take care of parkings and employ disciplined attendants. This will end parking woes of visitors.

Suresh Verma, Chandigarh

---

Don’t charge parking fee

Market welfare associations should wholeheartedly operate inner market parking lots. Guards should be appointed to maintain parkings. No fee should be charged from owners to park their vehicles in inner markets. This will increase the number of customers at shops.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

---

Display parking info on boards

Market associations can rationalise management of parkings. All encroachments in parking should be removed. No policy will work unless there is enforcement of rules to prevent haphazard parking. Information for parking vehicles at earmarked places should be displayed on boards in inner markets for the convenience of visitors.

Vijay Malia, Chandigarh

---

Association well equipped to run lots

The Municipal Corporation (MC) is ready to hand over 60 parking lots in markets and commercial areas to market welfare associations to run them free of cost for two years. The MC had given two options to associations, which include run the lots free of cost or charge a nominal fee from users. After discussions, it was decided that parking lots would be run free of cost. The agenda states that the UT has 80 markets with parkings. But only 20 lots have paid parking and running fine. That leaves 60 unmanaged parking lots. The market associations are aware of the peak shopping time and customer footfall in their respective areas on a daily basis. They are better equipped to put in place a system that works well for operating lots.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

---

A step towards public participation

Apparently, it seems to a good step taken by the MC to allow traders run inner market parking lots in their respective markets. It is the first step towards public participation in operating parkings smoothly. The task is hard for market associations, but hope they will manage lots well by taking inspiration from their counterparts in Sector 22 and 19, who have set an example by providing free parking to visitors. Ideally, nominal charges can be taken from visitors for parking vehicles. Guards should be deployed to manage parkings.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

---

Citizen-friendly decision of MC

The decision of the Municipal Commissioner, Chandigarh, to allow market welfare associations operate inner market parking lots free of cost is a citizen friendly. However, there should be a proper charter to regulate these parking spaces. There should be no favoritism in these parking lots. Market welfare associations should come up with some dos and don’ts for running these parking lots. Proper operational manuals have to be prepared so that there is no hassle in operating parking lots. The revenue generated should be utilised in the upkeep and maintenance of parking lots. Market associations have to work hard for easing traffic congestion in lots and instilling a parking sense in the public.

Dr Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

---

Experienced staff must handle parking

UT residents don’t like to pay unnecessary parking fee. So, it’s good decision of the MC to handover inner parkings to market welfare associations. These associations should hire experienced staff to manage parkings. They must earmark proper space for parking two and four-wheelers. One or two persons can be deployed per parking, who help visitors park their vehicles easily. This will increase customer satisfaction and overall reputation of markets.

Aarti Verma, Panchkula

---

Attendants must to run parking lots

The free parking lots can run smoothly with attendants, paid by associations. Attendants will guide and help drivers of vehicles in orderly parking. If need arise associations can charge a nominal fee for parking. Market welfare associations should allocate funds from their resources to meet expenses for maintaining parking lots. They will have to form a committee to control the staff and tackle parking issues. The MC in turn may provide associations some infrastructure.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

---

Shopkeepers will get preference in parking

Parking in inner markets should be only for visitors. Shopkeepers are not supposed to park their vehicles in lots from morning till night and block space. The Municipal Corporation has given management of inner parking lots to market welfare associations. This will result in preferential treatment for shopkeepers, who will park their vehicles in lots leaving no space for visitors.

Ashok Kumar Goel, Panchkula

---

Parking lots managed by traders better

Persons hired by businessmen to manage unpaid parkings are generally more efficient than those deployed by contractors. Reason is simple. Businessmen deploy two to three persons to manage even small parking while a contractor employs two, including one at the entrance and the other at the exit. Vehicles in lots manned by shop owners are parked properly. Also the staff at unpaid lots guides drivers to park their vehicles at designated places. They also help drivers in exiting parkings safely.

Savita Kuthiala, Chandigarh

---

QUESTION

Chandigarh’s Swachh Survekshan-2021 ranking among cities with population above 10 lakh has dropped from eighth to 16th. What according to you led to the fall in the ranking? What steps need to be taken to improve the position next year?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to [email protected]