Parts of Lajpat Nagar are unrecognisable now — there are no blaring horns or the three lanes of parked cars blocking free flow of traffic. But, the ‘no parking zone’ has led to bottlenecks at the entrance and exit of the market.
Since November last year, the National Green Tribunal has been hearing a petition on decongesting the popular Central Market in South Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar. The Tribunal ordered in December 4, 2014, that Lajpat Nagar and Karol Bagh should be made subjects of pilot projects for decongestion.
The three arterial roads in Lajpat Nagar II — Veer Savarkar Marg, Feroze Gandhi Road and Shiv Mandir Marg — and several lanes and bylanes have turned into one of the most popular markets in the city. Till about six months ago, the three main roads were a haphazard parking lot with shoppers being harassed and overcharged by the murky parking mafia.
However, following the Green Tribunal order, civic agencies and traffic police launched a crackdown on the parking mafia and brought in some order. The agencies earmarked one lane along each road as an authorised parking lot and left the remaining space for smooth flow of vehicles.
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation was asked to paint a red line demarcating the parking lane. SDMC Central Zone Deputy Commissioner Rupesh Thakur said the red paint was not visible, so a white-coloured line was painted.
“We have put up signs saying parking is not allowed apart from the one lane, but some people have torn the signage. We issue 20 to 25 challans and notices everyday for wrong parking,” said the constable.
While traffic movement has become smoother, parking spaces have been reduced. Owner of a clothing store on Feroze Gandhi Road, Vijender Malhotra said: “Our customers have been complaining that they cannot find parking. It has become a huge inconvenience.”
K.S. Bakshi, the chairman of the Lajpat Nagat Traders’ Association, said the NGT had banned all parking in the area, but on the appeal of the traders, it was allowed in one lane. An empty plot nearby has been given by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board for temporary parking. But, it accommodates only 550 cars.
“Customers are suffering due to the lack of parking space. People have stopped coming to our market fearing the parking hassle,” said Mr. Bakshi.
A resident of Lajpat Nagar-III said the lack of parking in the market has forced visitors to park in residential lanes. “The situation is so chaotic that it takes half an hour to go from Lajpat Nagar-III to Lajpat Nagar II in the evening. The idea is good, but it is not being enforced,” said the resident.
SDMC officials said the problem can only be fully solved till people switch to public transport. The Zonal Deputy Commissioner added that the SDMC would ramp up the decongestion drive from Monday, removing street vendors as per the NGT’s orders.
