To dissuade people from parking vehicles on congested stretches on roads in the city, the Coimbatore Corporation has proposed to introduce paid parking system.
The Corporation Council passed a resolution to this effect but not before extracting an assurance from Commissioner G. Latha and Deputy Commissioner S. Sivarasu that at first the system should be introduced on an experimental basis and only if it was successful should it be extended to other areas in the city.
The Corporation resolution said that the parking of two-wheelers and four-wheelers on main thoroughfares, National Highways and other roads affected the free movement of vehicles, resulting in traffic congestion across the city.
To reduce congestion and dissuade people from haphazardly parking vehicles, the Corporation proposed to introduce paid parking system, as decided at the District Road Safety Committee meeting and as recommended in the City Development Plan and City Mobility Plan.
The NGO ITDP had also suggested the same to the City Municipal Corporation.
When the resolution came up for discussion, a few councillors were on their feet demanding the withdrawal of the same. Ward 62 Councillor S. Balan said that if not properly implemented, commuters who parked vehicles outside schools for only a few minutes to drop and pick up children would be harassed by parking lot contractors.
Such incidents were not new to the city, he said and added that the resultant clashes were what forced the Corporation to rescind the decision to have paid parking places in the city.
North Zone Chairman P. Rajkumar said that the Corporation could instead go in for multi-level parking lots to ease traffic congestion.
Ms. Latha intervened to say that there would be no room for fleecing or harassment as it would be an automated parking system, without human intervention.
Commuters who parked vehicles could obtain prepaid cards.
Alternatively, they could have the money deducted from their bank account. The Chennai Corporation had introduced such a system.
It was as per the State Government’s decision after a thorough deliberation, she added.
Following assurances, the Council passed the resolution.
