Allahabad: It’s a question of survival, say traders hit by parking ban

ALLAHABAD: Traffic police’s recent decision to declare Sardar Patel Marg in Civil Lines a no parking zone has left local traders and entrepreneurs unimpressed as they claim that has hampered their business.
The group of traders have now decided to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath to draw their attention to their problems.
President of Civil Lines Vyapar Mandal Sushil Kharbanda said, “The implementation of the no parking rule on SP Marg’s third lane has taken a toll on our trade. Almost every shop located on SP Marg has registered a 20-30% slump in sales ever since the rule was enforced last month.”
Kharbanda said that the traders had suggested alternatives to the parking ban to the police officials, but it was all in vain.
“It’s a question of survival. If the parking ban continues, it would make it difficult for us to sustain our businesses,” he added.
“Ever since the rule was enforced, the number of customers visiting our shops has declined. Afraid of being written a challan, many people avoid visiting shops located on SP Marg,” said a trader who owns a shop in Civil Lines.
“Every day traffic police officials come and issue a challan to any motorist who parks in SP Marg’s third lane,” he added.
SP (traffic) Kuldeep Singh said that parking on SP Marg’s third lane is now strictly prohibited and those violating the norms would attract a challan.
The SP said that the traffic police department had apprised shopkeepers about the directive in advance and had appealed them to advise customers to park their vehicles in authorised parking zones only.
“Ever since the traffic police started issuing e-challans for vehicles parked in front of shops, our sales have slumped by 20-30%. We need a concrete solution to the problem,” said another trader.