Parking space crunch adds to traffic chaos in Nakodar

Even though the vehicular pressure on roads is increasing in Nakodar, the Municipal Council here has failed to create any parking space. This forces the people to park vehicles along the roads, leading to traffic chaos.

Since there are no parking lots in the town, most of the visitors park their vehicles at Fountain Chowk near the Nakodar MC office, clogging three roads and leading to traffic snarls. Residents hold municipal authorities responsible for not providing a parking lot and leasing out prime land which could have been used for the purpose at a throwaway price.

A chunk of land suitable for parking adjoining Ambedkar Chowk to Vishwakarma Trust has been simply gifted out, allege the residents. “Ex-Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had laid the foundation stone of Ramgarhia Hall on August 4, 2001, despite protests from residents. The MC even sold 7 kanal of prime land on the hospital road to the telecom department in 1990 which was another alternate site for parking,” said a resident.

Another resident Amarjit Singh alleged that the government had commercialised land which could have been used to create parking space. “Shops have been constructed on a 6 kanal plot opposite the civil hospital, forcing the residents to park their vehicles at Fountain Chowk,” he said.

Majority of residents are of the opinion that the Army land measuring 11 kanal and 11 marla, which has been encroached upon by Shivala Mandir authorities, should be used for parking vehicles. They have proposed that the Nakodar MC should pay the market rent of the land to the Army. The residents say that the land was best suited for parking purpose.

The Tribune correspondent took a round of the Nakodar town today and observed traffic chaos near Vishwakarma Chowk, Hospital Road, Old Sabzi Mandi road and Fountain Chowk. An eminent social activist Munish Dhir, district president of BJP (Rural), said the cops and municipal committee would have to coordinate to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the town and initiate the removal of illegal encroachments.

Congress MC Councillor Gaurav Jain said, “The town has been marred by encroachments by various social and religious bodies. This has practically left no space for creating a parking lot. Encroachments by shopkeepers have further added to the woes of the residents.”