PAVEMENT BECOMES PARKING SPACE IN KALUBOWILA

Pedestrians walk on road

Pedestrians using Kalubowila Hospital Road (Baddegama Vimalawansa Mawatha) are facing hardship due to the unauthorized parking of vehicles on the pavement.

They said the pavement was improved under the recent road development project to enhance facilities to tens of thousands of pedestrians including patients seeking treatment at the hospital.

Residents said that several private sector institutions used the pavement as parking space for their vehicles and those of their customers.

A resident of Kalubowila Wimalasiri Mawatha, Cyril Fernando said, pedestrians had been compelled to walk by the edge of the road regardless of its risk.

He said quite often pedestrians were knocked down by vehicles.

“The road which was not wide enough for even two vehicles to pass, were widened with improvements to the pavement. However, the pavement is now misused as parking space obstructing the movement of pedestrians.

“A vehicle showroom has laid a concreted covering the pavement to display its vehicles for sale. Our complaints in this regard to the Road Development Authority in Ratmalana have been referred to the Battaramulla Chief Engineer’s

Office but to no avail.

“The Police Traffic Division patrolling the road has ignored this unauthorized parking. When I complained to them they asked me whether I had any grudge with the owners of the vehicle showroom,” he said.

“I told them I had no such thoughts, but I was concerned about the obstructions caused to the pavement used by tens of thousands of people. I informed this to the Chief Executive of the Battaramulla RDA office who promised to carry out inspection and give seven days to the institutions concerned to remove their vehicles. Although about two weeks have elapsed, they have not yet taken any action,” he said.

Another resident H.D. Caldera said, school children attending a leading school in Kalubowila were exposed to the danger of meeting with accidents when walking along the road as the pavement had become parking lots.

He pointed out that they often stepped on to the road where the pavement was obstructed, without any concern of the speeding vehicles.

He requested the police to take action against the business establishments and the individuals misusing the pavements in this manner.

The Police Traffic Division patrolling the road has ignored this unauthorized parking. When I complained to them they asked me whether I have any grudge with the owners of the vehicle showroom