After drive to stop parking, mkts back to square one

Noida: Days after police launched Operation Clean 5, an initiative to decongest roads and check traffic violations, illegal parking and squatting vendors are back at several markets and shopping hubs in the city.
On Monday, vehicles could be seen illegally parked at the Sector 27 Atta market, Sector 18 inner roads, the service lane outside Amity University and Sector 62. Long-route bus drivers have also returned at the Dadri main road between Sectors 43-44.
“Cops are taking rounds here continuously and challaning shoppers. It has affected business. Even two-wheelers are being issued mobile challans,” said a sari showroom owner in Atta market.
Squatters who were removed by cops also complained. Atul, a vendor who sells clothes, said he has no place to go and his stock is lying in the godown.
Bateshwar Mishra, president Atta Dainik Vyapar association, said Noida Authority is yet to allot them a designated space for keeping their vends.
“As many as 8,200 have applied for a space in the vending zones. However, the draw of lots has still not taken place due to which they have to stand outside Atta market,” he said. Authority officials said the process of allotment “will take some time”.
In Sector 18, parking in the double lanes is back. Despite EPCA chairman Bhure Lal’s direction that the sector should become a vehicle-free zone, Noida Authority has not moved to scrap surface level parking in the area. SP (traffic) Anil Jha told TOI that in a recent meeting with Authority officials, they were informed that the agreement of surface parking will last till 2025.
In the Sector 44 car market, which has several tour and travel shops, agency owners say they have no area to park their private buses and demand a designated space for it.
Laxman Rai, owner of Bihar Sampark Travels, said, “There are many tour-travel service owners here who have no place to park. We get most of the passengers from here, so we have no choice,” he said.
Outside Amity University in Sector 125, visitors’ cars and autos can be seen lining up in the service lane opposite gate number 4A.
Muhammad Adil, an auto driver, said he knows about the Noida police’s drive, but has no option but to park his auto there. “Most students have to be picked up and dropped at this gate. Parking is provided only to students,” he said.
SP Jha told TOI that multiple issues need to be resolved to ensure that illegal parking ends. “The traffic police have limited powers, including challaning, and that is being carried out,” he said.