Haphazard parking triggers frequent traffic jams in Ambala Sadar area market

Nitish Sharma

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Tribune News Service

Ambala, August 17

In the absence of enforcement and strict action, people continue to park their vehicles at their whim and fancy in the busy Sadar market of Ambala Cantonment.

Though the municipal council had constructed a multi-level parking and inaugurated it last year, people, including shopkeepers, park their vehicles on the roadsides in a haphazard manner, which leads to traffic jams in the market frequently. The multi-level parking was built at a cost of Rs 19.38 crore to decongest the busy markets.

The vehicles can be seen parked unattended near Vijay Rattan Chowk, Nicholson Road, Ram Bazaar, Old Grain Market Road, DC Road and other areas of the Sadar zone.

Ravi Kumar, a resident, said, “The Municipal Council had built a multi-level parking but still a majority of the vehicles can be seen parked in the market areas. Not only the commuters but the emergency vehicles also get stuck due to the wrongly parked vehicles.

Sanjay Singh, another resident, said, “Not only the people who visit the markets, but the shopkeepers also park their vehicles on the roads outside their shops and block a major part of the road. The Police Department should take some strict action and ensure there is smooth flow of traffic in the market areas, and also take action against those people who leave their cars on the roads unattended.”

Ambala Cantonment Subdivisional Magistrate-cum-Administrator of the Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar, Satinder Siwach said, “The tendency of parking vehicles in front of the shop has been a major issue. The shopkeepers have started using the multi-level parking facility and a large number of visitors also use the facility but still many vehicles can be seen on the road. At present, the facility is being managed by the employees of the Municipal Council and the facility towing the vehicles will be introduced soon.”

“There are multiple parking sites available around the market areas, including the multi-level parking, SDM complex and near night street market, while another facility at Bank Square will be made available soon. The council will run a campaign to motivate the shopkeepers and the commuters to use the designated sites only, else appropriate action will be initiated”, he added.

Ambala Superintendent of Police Surinder Singh Bhoria said, “Congested lanes and wrongly parked vehicles have been a major cause of traffic jams. We have decided to motivate people so that they park their vehicles at designated places only. We will also start challaning in the market areas soon. The wrongly parked vehicles will be towed away.”

350 cars, 300 two-wheelers can be parked in the facility

SDM Satinder Siwach, who inspected the car parking, said, “As many as 250-300 monthly passes are being issued for four-wheelers and many two-wheelers are also parked here on a daily basis. Residents who don’t have parking space at their home are using the facility. The parking is earning around Rs 3 lakh to 3.50 lakh per month and more importantly it is helping in decongesting the markets. An employee was found absent from duty and a show-cause notice is being issued.”