PUNE: The redesigning of
Fergusson College Road to make it a smart street has resulted in a shortage of on-street parking space.
In a city already reeling under traffic violations of varying magnitudes, motorists now park haphazardly or blatantly double park not only on this arterial road but also use up the space in the lanes and bylanes leading to complete traffic chaos on the street during the day.
Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Ashok Morale told
TOI that problems like double parking and unauthorized parking have cropped up on
FC Road since the work commenced.
“We have stationed some personnel on FC Road to ensure that double parking or unauthorized parking does not take place in order to regulate the traffic in the area. Parking along the barricades where the work is going on is not allowed and we are taking action against such vehicles. These five to six personnel will continue to be deployed at various spots on the road until the work is completed,” he added.
Regular commuter Purva Sankhla has always found parking on Fergusson College Road a nightmare. “ The problem is aggravated now due to the ongoing smart street work. The entire stretch from the old British Council building to the Fergusson College main gate was once used for parking. The area is now out-of-bounds and there is no alternative provision. The Pune Municipal Corporation’s parking facility opposite the college’s main gate is insufficient.”
Vehicles are parked haphazardly leading to traffic jams and causing inconvenience to other motorists, she said.
“There is a two-wheeler parking outside the old British Council building. Many motorists are using the area for double parking, wherein the cars are parked behind the twowheelers. This not only affects the movement of traffic on the road but also causes inconvenience to two-wheeler riders who have parked there. Also, cars can be seen parked all along the barricades where the work in going on, further reducing the carriageway of the road,” Sankhla said.
Sambhaji Dhag, an employee working for the contractor that runs the PMC parking at Millennium Plaza on FC Road, said the parking lot has the capacity to station 34 four-wheelers and 130 two-wheelers.
“However, we never see too many takers as on-street parking is available on the road. Many still park along the kerbside thus attracting fines from the traffic police. But since the work on FC Road has started, a lot more vehicles are coming to park here all through the day,” Dhag said.
According to former corporator Shrikant Shirole, the plot diagonally opposite Fergusson College main gate was once reserved for a parking lot. “The land was reserved for parking space and the civic body has provided public parking on the plot as per the reservation. Once the reservation is executed, the land owner can construct on the remaining plot. This was the only plot on FC Road that was reserved for parking,” he explained.
Shirole Road resident Pallak Doshi said for the duration of the work, the no-parking zones on the right flank of the road must be temporarily opened up for parking.
“The stretch of the road outside Hotel Vaishali and outside Millennium Plaza have been demarcated as no-parking zones. People are thus parking at any space they can fit their vehicle in. While the work is going on and there is no parking on the left flank of the road, the right side must be made a parking zone for the convenience of motorists,” she said.
The vehicles are parked in the no parking zone at the lanes adjoining FC road.
