Roadside parking bane of commuters in Dharamsala

Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, August 5

The main road that divides Ramnagar and Shamnagar wards of Dharamsala is considered to be the lifeline of these two heavily populated wards. But the entire road is getting choked due to the haphazard roadside parking and travelling on it is getting difficult with each passing day.

The vehicles parked on roadsides not only occupy space but make it extremely difficult to negotiate another vehicle coming from the opposite direction. The absence of the traffic police on this road is conspicuous as it is busy on the Dharamsala-Mcleodganj road. The problem is worst during the morning and evening hours when school buses and office employees ply on the road and are severely obstructed by heavy trucks engaged in loading or unloading of materials.

A senior citizen said, “Idle vehicles parked on the road result in chaos. It has become risky to continue our morning and evening walks here.”

Kangra SSP Shalini Agnihotri assured she would constitute a team to take stock of the situation. According to Ranjit Singh, ASI Traffic, “The police will be more vigilant on this road and challan regular offenders.”

Sanjiv Kumar, an employee who commutes daily on the road, said heavy trucks occupying most of the space on the road was a common site during morning and evening hours. He has demanded that the administration should regulate and restrict these vehicles at least during the prime hours. He said even schools should be asked to avoid huge vehicles and ply only mini-buses on such congested roads.