Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The city has been grappling with the issue of parking for many years. When citizens park their vehicles anywhere along the roadside, the municipal corporation and traffic police pick them up. After that, citizens are forced to pay hefty fines. On one hand, there is no effort to provide a ‘Pay and Park’ facility, while on the other, strict enforcement of towing vehicles has been put in place. This has caused great inconvenience to the common citizens.
The municipal corporation has marked white lines on the main roads of the city, allowing two-wheelers and four-wheelers to be parked alongside them. However, when vehicles are parked there, the municipal corporation and traffic police tow them away. Large vehicles are also towed, and fines ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 are being imposed for vehicle release. This process has caused great frustration among the city's residents. The civic administration should provide ‘Pay and Park’ facilities at various locations. If the corporation implements this system, citizens will park their vehicles without any hesitation.
The municipal corporation has provided parking facilities at only two locations in the city. A very small parking space has been arranged at Gulmandi, where only two-wheelers are parked. At Paithan Gate, both two-wheelers and four-wheelers are parked. Besides, a parking lot has been created at Siddharth Garden on a ‘pay-and-park’ basis.
Pay fixed charges only
CSMC estate officer, Sanjay Chamale said, “The section has provided parking facilities at two locations. The charges are set and accordingly, Rs 10 for bicycles and two-wheelers, Rs 15 for three-wheelers, and Rs 20 for four-wheelers is collected from the citizens.”