Roadside parking undermines purpose of multi-level parking facility

Despite the availability of a multilevel car parking facility on West Boulevard Road, roadside parking continues unabated along the busy commercial stretch, adding to traffic congestion, particularly during the festive season.

The problem intensifies during festivals, when a surge in shoppers visiting commercial establishments increases vehicular movement and leads to frequent traffic snarls. Cars and two-wheelers parked on both sides of the road narrow the carriageway, impeding the smooth flow of traffic.

The ₹20-crore facility, built to accommodate around 350 four-wheelers and 150 two-wheelers, remains underutilised, with less than half its capacity being used. Its low occupancy has raised questions about the effective use of the infrastructure and the need for stricter enforcement of parking regulations in the area.

Despite the availability of designated parking spaces, many motorists continue to park along the road for convenience. “As commercial establishments witness increased footfall during the festive season, the demand for parking spaces often spills over onto already congested roads,” said N. Jamaludeen, a civic activist.

CPI Councillor K. Sureshkumar said that the joint enforcement drives by the Traffic Police and the Corporation were essential to curb unauthorised parking along WB Road. “Regular monitoring, restrictions on roadside parking at congestion-prone stretches and the imposition of penalties on violators could help improve traffic flow,” he added.

The Corporation had earlier planned to introduce an integrated digital parking system using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to streamline parking operations.

According to sources, the Corporation has been incurring losses in maintaining the multilevel parking facility. Private agencies have reportedly shown little interest in taking up its maintenance owing to poor utilisation.

A senior official said the police were being urged to divert vehicles to the facility. Efforts were also under way to rope in a suitable contractor to maintain it.