At market of Sector 7 in Panchkula on Sunday. (Express Photo/ Jasbir Malhi)
Shopkeepers at the markets of sectors 7, 9, 11 and 20 are bracing for the parking chaos which awaits their markets on Dhanteras and Diwali. These markets are considered to be the busiest and during festival season, the footfall increases manifold.
The police authorities have made an appeal to the owners of shops at these markets not to park their vehicles in the parking lots and let the customers avail the space. Pick and drop service is being encouraged for the shop owners. An appeal was also made to the people residing around the markets in these four sectors to allow visitors to park the vehicles outside their houses but officials are doubtful if the appeal will work.
Sanjay Goel, a jeweller at Sector 9 market, says he and his fellow shopkeepers have accepted the appeal of the local police and decided that vehicles would leave after dropping them. “But we are doubtful whether the people residing around the market will allow customers to park their vehicles outside their houses. Parking is a major problem in our sector. Last year, many customers complained about the chaos,” he said.
Rakesh Aggarwal, a manager with a crockery showroom in Sector 11, said, “We know that a number of customers will never get the chance to park their vehicles in the parking lot at the market. This problem is increasing each year. What can we do? We can only request the traffic authorities to keep parking areas organised.”
Rakesh Sharma, who lives near Arya Samaj Mandir in Sector 9, says, “How can I allow someone else to park his or her vehicle before my doorstep? I have two cars in my house; my family members and I have to move around too. A policeman deployed in Sector 9 says that half a dozen phone calls came every day from area near the market with people complaining that their house entrance has been blocked by vehicles parked outside their houses.
Another cause for concern for the MC officials and the police are the unauthorized stalls of sweets and other items in the parking areas. Panchkula traffic police Inspector Suresh Kumar said, “I have personally requested MC officials to take stern action against the unauthorised stalls throughout Panchkula, especially in parking lots. The vehicular rush at the markets is bound to increase in the coming days,” he said.
While the MC Commissioner, Rajesh Jogpal, was not available for comment, another MC officer requesting anonymity said, “Challan drives are being conducted against unauthorised stalls. We are committed to providing parking space to people without any hindrance.”
Sector 7 market is one of the oldest ones in Panchkula while Sector 9 market is famous for jewellery shops. People come to shop here from Kalka, Pinjore, and other surrounding suburban areas. Sector 11 market has branded showrooms for readymade garments, electronics as well as sweet shops and crockery showrooms. Sector 20 market has become a hub for shopping with as many as 117 Group Housing Societies in this sector.
There are only 80 traffic police personnel for the traffic duties in urban part of Panchkula. Three mobile traffic police vehicles patrol in the city from 4 pm to 10 pm during the festive season and one towing vehicle is being used for wrongly parked vehicles.