50% traffic congestion cleared, autos still parked outside station

KALYAN: Two days after the drive against haphazardly-parked auto rickshaws on the Kalyan station road was initiated, the Kalyan traffic police claimed that it has managed to clear half of the congestion on the road. Commuters, however, claimed that the autos are back once the cops turn their backs.

The traffic police have fined 92 auto rickshaws during the drive and collected fines worth ₹64,000. Around 600 autos were inspected during the drive.

“We have managed to control the traffic and decongest the station road by 50% till now and our team is working on it regularly to ensure the station road is completely free for traffic and pedestrian movements,” said Sukhdev Patil, senior traffic police inspector, Kalyan.

The traffic police had urged the auto rickshaw drivers to use the auto stand and avoid parking on the road to avoid congestion.

“Many autos use the auto lane. However, there are some who still take the road without following the lane and allow the passengers in,” added Patil.

Commuters who take the station road said the autos are again parked haphazardly anywhere after the cops leave the spot.

“I can see autos still parked near the Deepak Hotel, causing major congestion,” said Rahul Shinde, 40, a commuter.

Presently, the Smart Kalyan Dombivli Corporation Limited (SKDCL) has started the SATIS project work under the smart city mission at the station road.

“We want the smart city work to be carried out smoothly without any disruption in the station road traffic. The only way to make it possible is by controlling the haphazardly-parked auto rickshaws,” added Patil.

“Considering the number of autos in the city, the parking space provided by the civic body is very less. We don’t have an option other than parking wherever we find a space,” said Dinesh Singh, 40, an auto driver.

Kalyan railway station authorities have written to the police demanding action against congestion. “The unauthorised parking outside the station is causing a lot of congestion. We want all illegal parking to be removed,” said YM Vhatkar , station director, Kalyan rly station.

Auto rickshaws are parked haphazardly despite a dedicated lane outside Kalyan railway station on Thursday.