Efforts to ensure smooth flow of traffic and to streamline parking along the crucial MG Road began here on Friday, with the City Police demarcating ‘No Parking’ zones and separate parking areas for two-wheelers and four-wheelers.
The zone system will be in force from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., from Palayam to East Fort.
Fee to be charged
Though it was announced by the Corporation Administration Committee that a fee would be charged for parking in the demarcated zones, no vehicle owner who made use of the parking slots were charged on Friday since the administration committee was yet to chalk out the finer aspects of the proposal, including tendering of contracts for collection of fee, the additional charges after the first hour and so on.
These are expected to be finalised in a few days.
Review
On Friday, City Commissioner, H. Venkatesh, and Deputy Commissioner (Law and Order), K. Sanjay Kumar Gurudin, whose report on optimisation of traffic in the city is the basis for the new move, oversaw the installation of signboards, setting up of traffic cones and demarcation of the parking and ‘no parking’ zones along MG Road.
The markings on the roadsides, based on a fishbone structure, would be done shortly in the parking zones, Mr. Sanjay Kumar said.
Awareness creation
The first day of the initiative, he said, was more of awareness creation through announcements and distribution of pamphlets on the same. Enforcement of the concept, with strict action against violators, would begin in a day or two, he said.
The response from the public, and around 90 per cent of the shopkeepers along the stretch, was positive, with many pointing out that the streamlining of traffic and parking in the area, paid or not, through such measures was overdue.
There were a few protests and requests from some, which would be considered with changes, if necessary, to be made after proper deliberations.
Facebook post
The response to Mr. Sanjay Kumar’s Facebook post on the move too has elicited a majority of positive comments, along with a host of suggestions as well.
V. Sivankutty, MLA, meanwhile issued a statement alleging that the paid parking move would only put the public to inconvenience.
