The Hindu 30.08.2012
Parking lots not being used judiciously
These spaces have conveniently been converted into business ‘addas’
Though the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation authorities
allotted parking lots in various parts of the town to avoid traffic
congestion at the newly beautified traffic islands, there are no takers
for them.
Due to the negligence of the traffic police
, taxi-operators, auto-rickshaws, small traders and vendors have
successfully converted the parking lot into their business ‘addas’.
As
part of “Mana Nagaram –Mana Karimnagaram” (Our city-our Karimnagar)
programme, the district administration had taken up the beautification
of Karimnagar town in general and traffic islands in particular with the
help of local philanthropists.Collusion
Though the
traffic police have been relieved of their duties of regulating traffic
at the islands, they have failed to regulate the movement of vehicles at
junctions as well as ensuring that vehicles are parked in their
allocated parking spaces. The authorities have identified parking lots
in front of the Zilla Parishad office, RTC bus station entry point,
Government Junior College grounds near Indira chowk, AP Transco SE
office and Karimnagar municipal guest house areas.
Ironically,
shop-owners at the busy Tower circle adjacent to the head post-office
have literally encroached upon the main road and converted it into a
parking lot causing inconvenience to road-users.
Lok
Satta district president N. Srinivas alleged that the traffic police
were the main culprits in not enforcing road rules and ensuring vehicles
only be parked in the allotted parking spaces.He alleged that the businessmen in Tower circle area had colluded with the traffic police for their own benefit.
Some
locals say that the newly allotted parking lots should be further
developed by erecting sign boards to educate people to park vehicles
properly without hindering traffic.