The issue of haphazard vehicle parking causing inconvenience to citizens is becoming more serious day by day as the city’s population has reached nearly 36 lakh. The rapid construction of commercial complexes and high-rise residential buildings has further worsened the traffic situation. Today, many new residential buildings provide parking space for only one or two cars, while some flat owners possess four to five vehicles, often of larger size. These extra vehicles are parked on roadsides, reducing road space and obstructing the smooth movement of traffic, which leads to frequent traffic jams. For example, the narrow 5-metre-wide roads in colonies such as Gandhi Nagar, Daga Layout, Madhav Nagar, Abhyankar Nagar, Dhantoli, and Ramdaspeth face serious traffic congestion due to roadside parking. Wardha Road also experiences heavy traffic during the evening hours, making it difficult for air passengers to reach the airport on time unless they leave at least three hours before their flight.

 

Haphazard parking in Dharampeth, Sitabuldi, Laxmi Nagar, Sadar, and Gandhibagh, along with the absence of adequate traffic police personnel to regulate traffic, adds to the difficulties faced by citizens, especially senior citizens. The Traffic Department should mark proper parking lines on both sides of the roads and repaint speed breakers, as many have become difficult to sight. Proper parking markings will help prevent wrong parking and reduce the need for vehicles to be towed away by the authorities. The city administration should also consider constructing multi-level parking buildings in busy market areas to provide parking facilities and ease congestion.