Lack of parking space makes the business centre a hub of chaos

VASHI: Despite being the most developed node in the city, parking facilities in Vashi, or the lack, is no different from the rest of the city. Surprisingly, even the commercial hubs in the city do not have adequate space for vehicles to be parked.

This is especially true of sector 17, which has a number of corporate offices, banks, real estate offices, media offices, builders’ offices, hospitals, clinics and government organisations, besides a number of housing societies.

This implies that there are a large number of people who either visit this sector or pass through the area, every day. However, given the limited space to park their vehicles, motorists either have to drive around looking for a parking space or wait for a while before a space is freed up.

Those in a hurry, often end up parking their vehicles haphazardly, thus blocking the traffic and congesting the roads.

“Most visitors to the area resort to double parking when they do not get space. This is the main reason for the chaos as those parking in the allotted areas cannot leave till the cars blocking their path are moved,” said Ram Singh, a security guard at Golden Punjab restaurant in sec- Haphazardly parked cars worsen the traffic congestion on an already busy road, say shopkeepers in the area. tor 17. “Many even park in front of gates, despite no-parking signs being put up. This often leads to arguments and heated exchanges among residents, making the situation even worse.”

Shop owners in the area said that the situation was going from bad to worse.

Kunal Rajpal, the proprietor of a shop in the area, said, “The parking problem has existed for years. However, with new establishments and fast food joints coming up, more people now come to the area.”

Rajpal stressed on the need for a stricter monitoring of traffic norms in the area. “Although the towing van and cops make cus- tomary rounds, this has had little effect on the traffic situation. We need the traffic police to be more vigilant through the day.”

The officials concerned, too, agreed with the need for better pay-and-park facilities. “People from as far as Panvel, Belapur and even Mumbai come here every day. Although there are a few parking facilities from Arenja corner to Shivaji Chowk, these are not enough to accommodate the large number of people who come here,” said Vijay Patil, deputy commissioner of police ( traffic). “There is a need for civic authorities to take concrete steps to resolve the parking issues here,” he added.

BACHCHAN KUMAR