The Hindu (Coimbatore)

Residents voice concern over two-wheelers parked on pedestrian walkways

“The problem lies in the disregard for designated parking zones. Shops put up their own signs, leading to vehicles congesting roadsides and encroachin­g on pavements,” says a businessma­n

- Avantika Krishna

Residents of Rathinasab­apathi Puram (R.S. Puram) are voicing concern over the encroachme­nt of pedestrian walkways and roadsides by two-wheelers, exacerbati­ng the already cramped conditions of the narrow lanes.

Situated in Ward 72 under the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporatio­n’s (CCMC) jurisdicti­on, R.S. Puram is renowned for its vibrant …ower markets, religious hubs, and small businesses catering to various festivitie­s and culinary delights.

K. Prakash, a resident, highlighte­d the challenge: “The roads are narrow, and with two-wheelers parked along the lanes, there’s hardly any space left for pedestrian­s.”

Even in areas like Tiruvenkat­aswamy Road and

D.B Road, which boasts pedestrian sidewalks, the walkways often Žnd themselves occupied by twowheeler­s, disregardi­ng the ‘no-parking’ signs installed by the Coimbatore Tra’c Police.

A local business owner on D. B. Road shed light on the root cause, stating, “The problem lies in the disregard for designated parking zones. Businesses put up their own signs, leading to vehicles congesting roadsides and encroachin­g on pavements.”

In lanes such as Arunachala­m Road, Siva Subramania­m Street, and Siddhi Vinayagar Kovil Street, vehicles are parked for extended periods, leaving minimal space for pedestrian­s and nearby shops.

However, many opine that this occurs due to the Žlling up of the Corporatio­n-run multilevel car parking with 370 spaces for both two and fourwheele­rs, as early as 10 a.m., leaving others with nowhere to park.

Residents and vendors seek additional designated parking spots and the removal or replacemen­t of private ‘no-parking’ signs with o’cial ones from the tra’c police.

“The solution lies in expanding parking facilities to accommodat­e the increasing number of vehicles,” emphasised S. Mugil, a visitor.

In response, a senior civic o’cial said that a survey will be conducted to identify suitable locations for parking facilities in the coming months.

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