Parking blues in Solan, challans add to woes

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, March 28

The inordinate delay in completing various parking projects here is creating inconvenience to the people, who are facing hefty fines for parking vehicles in the available space.

Though several projects were conceived years ago, some of these have either failed to be completed or some are yet to begin. The railway road parking project meant for 102 vehicles was conceived in 2008. Though bids were invited for the project on a build, operate and transfer basis in 2008, only a portion was completed in 2018 and the construction of its second phase is yet to begin.

2,748 fined

2,748 vehicles have been challaned since January by the Solan police and a penalty of Rs 2,97,600 has been collected while 1,453 cases have been sent to the court

Another multi-level parking project was conceived at the old bus stand involving transfer of Army land. The parking lots for 156 vehicles were supposed to be created in three floors, along with some commercial space. Since the exchange of land failed to take place, the project, too, has been hanging fire since then.

Vishal Singh, a resident, who has been facing the scourge of challans, said, “The local authorities have failed to create parking space vis-à-vis the increase in the number of vehicles and challans have become a routine affair. There is inadequate space even to park two-wheelers and one is fearful of being issued a challan.”

The parking facility is available at Saproon but its location along a curve on the busy national highway has reduced its utility as motorists find it difficult to gain access to it. Another parking lot near Thodo Ground is occupied by locals, leaving little room for those coming from outside.

“As many as 2,748 vehicles have been challaned since January by the Solan police and a penalty of Rs 2,97,600 has been collected while 1,453 cases have been sent to the court,” said Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav.

Pawan Gupta, MC councillor and former president, said the work to construct the second phase of the railway road parking would begin soon. A sum of Rs 70 lakh had been made available for constructing an approach road for the Army authorities and this would pave the way for exchange of land and construction of the parking at old bus stand soon. In the coming days, the projects would be completed and would ease the parking woes. The issue has become a major poll plank for the municipal corporation poll as residents are soar over lack of parking space in the town in the last several years despite a sharp increase in the number of vehicles.

Railway road project incomplete

• The railway road parking project for 102 vehicles was conceived in 2008
• Though bids were invited in 2008, only a portion was completed in 2018 and the construction of its second phase is yet to begin.

Parking near old bus stand uncertain

• Another multi-level parking project was conceived at the old bus stand involving transfer of Army land The parking lots for 156 vehicles were supposed to be created in three floors
• Since the exchange of land failed to take place, the project, too, has been hanging fire since then

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