PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Dehradun mayor Saurabh Thapliyal assured traders that their concerns would be examined after a Mahanagar Congress trade cell delegation submitted a memorandum demanding withdrawal of MCD’s decision to permit roadside parking through a tender process.
President of the cell Sunil Kumar Banga and the traders said that the MCD has floated tenders allowing roadside parking across key commercial areas, a move they termed “completely wrong.” They said that the vehicles were earlier towed for roadside parking, with fines of Rs 800 for two-wheelers and Rs 1,200 for four-wheelers, causing financial burden and inconvenience to residents. The delegation stated that the roadside parking should not be allowed when the MCD continues anti-encroachment drives elsewhere in the capital. They said that permitting parking on busy roads encourages encroachment and undermines traffic management.
According to their memorandum, roadside parking is creating inconvenience for pedestrians, obstructing smooth traffic flow and increasing accident risks, particularly at turning points in congested areas. The traders pointed out parking near Patel Park, Gandhi Park, Rajpur Road and in front of Kwality Hardware, near the Clock Tower, saying these roads are already narrow and heavily used. They also called for lower parking charges. At Patel Park and Gandhi Park, fees are Rs 10 for two-wheelers and Rs 20 for four-wheelers for up to two hours, rising to Rs 50 and Rs 100 respectively beyond that.
