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.
