Dhantoli parking woes back to haunt residents

Nagpur: The parking problem at Dhantoli has resurfaced after a hiatus. Dhantoli has a number of hospitals and commercial establishments. After residents relentlessly red-flagged the problem, CP Amitesh Kumar has decided to call a meeting of hospital managements, owners and medical practitioners running these institutions.
Though the focus is on Dhantoli, Kumar wants to tackle the issue in a more holistic manner looking at the problem across the city.


According to Kumar, there are complaints against hospitals in Dhantoli, Ramdaspeth, Sitabuldi and nearby areas from a wide section of population due to erratic parking and heavy vehicular flow in lanes of residential areas. “We are planning to summon the hospital managements with sanctioned building plans comprising parking arrangements. The meeting would be followed by a reality check,” the top cop said.
TOI has regularly reported on violations of buidling sanction plans and misuse of parking spaces.
The CP made it clear that designated parking places cannot be used or violated for other purposes. “If we find violations, offences under the MRTP Act would be initiated,” he said adding that hospital authorities should suo motu act on violations before cops begin a crackdown.
In the past, Dhantoli residents had filed PIL through counsels Ashutosh Dharmadhikari and Ashwin Deshpande which had resulted in some norms being followed.
The high court had issued directions from time to time to both police and civic authorities to look into the violations and resolve the problem. Several suggestions, like alternate day parking, were discussed but after transfer of officials concerned and passage of time the issue is back.
“The parking issue in Dhantoli is being deliberated at length by the high court in a PIL filed in 2017. A dedicated parking space may ease sufferings of patients as the area has become a medical hub,” said convener of Vidarbha Hospitals Association Dr Anup Marar.
“VHA had given this proposal to NMC way back. All hospitals in Dhantoli had assured to abide by parking norms. Competent authorities had offered relocation to London Street but hospital owners refused it as they have been serving patients being in the area for long. One should also consider the fact that many flat schemes have come up in the area and the roads are narrow,” said Dr Marar, who is also state secretary, AHPI.