Where do we park our vehicles?

KOCHI: Parking is a problem in Kochi and illegal parking is causing woes to pedestrians and drivers. The users of two-wheelers and cars conveniently park their vehicles on the road sides which is illegal. “But where do we park our vehicles unless the authorities earmark an area for it,” said a driver trying to park the vehicle on the footpath in front of a textile shop near Deshabhimani Junction. The road in front of the market nearby is encroached by parked vehicles - two-wheelers, cars, carrier auto, mini lorries. On Tuesdays, the road sides in Front of St Antony’s church are used for parking. The number of vehicles is increasing and bigger parking areas are the need of the hour, he said.Vehicles are seen parked on the sides of the Banerjee Road and on footpaths. Cars and two-wheelers leave little road space for plying vehicles on the High Court Road. It is almost the same on Broadway. Shanmugham Road is no different. The sides of narrow roads also turn into parking spaces. Bikes and cars occupy a large chunk of the major byroads. “It is difficult and dangerous for us to walk on the footpaths or roads owing to illegal parking. Footpaths in front of busy shopping centres and automobile shops are occupied by vehicles,” said a pedestrian.  In some corners of the city, the automobile workshops extend to the footpath on which vehicles are parked for repairs, such sights cast the city in poor light, he said.  “I found it difficult to negotiate my car on the Old Thevara Road as bikes and cars are parked on either side. This kind of parking is especially dangerous on two-way roads, as there is no space for giving way,” said George Thomas, a regular commuter on the road.  Though parking is monitored on MG Road, illegal parking can be seen here and there. Chittoor Road also witnesses illegal parking. Parking is a problem despite the growing number of pay-and-park zones and parking spaces provided in new buildings. “In some places, people park on the road even though space is allotted in front of buildings,” said a pedestrian. “We have put up ‘no parking’ and ‘parking’ boards in many zones of the city. Parking areas have been set aside at busy places like Medical Trust Hospital, Menaka and other places. We are trying our best to curb illegal parking,” said RTO T J Thomas. We have been imposing a fine of `500 for parking in ‘no-parking’ zones and `100 for parking in areas where parking is illegal. All junctions and bus stops are no-parking zones and no-parking zones exist every 50-metre interval.“Stickers will be pasted on vehicles parked illegally and they pay the fine in the evening. Vehicles that cause a lot of problem are towed away,” said Traffic Assistant Commissioner Muhammed Rafeeq.