Nine months after imposing a ban, the menace of indiscreetly parked vehicles is back to haunt traders in Broadway, one of the oldest and busiest trade centre in Kochi. The problem has reached a point that the Broadway Shop Owners’ Association has approach the traffic police authority once again, seeking a permanent solution to the issue.
“After just a few days of police clamp down, it’s all back to square one and the entire kerb has been occupied by the illegally parked vehicles here,” said P.A. Sageer, president of the organisation. The problem has resurfaced at a time as the authorities have embarked on a beautification of the stretch with tiled-road, fresh drainage facilities and cable duct alongside for shifting all overhead cables, he pointed out.
Haphazard parking of two-wheelers in multiple rows, especially on the left side of Broadway, had been a bane for long, taking a heavy toll on business in the area. Following recurrent requests from the traders, the road was declared as a no-parking zone by the traffic authorities in August last year.
According to traders, the problem is more acute in points such as the Alapatt Junction where a couple of traders have encroached upon the footpath. The signboards warning action against illegal parking have not been effective, while the policemen who were deployed in the wake of a parking ban last year, have disappeared.
The problem is also causing a civic and hygiene issue in the area with people often dumping waste behind the vehicles, making the entire stretch dirty, the traders added.
Commenting on the issue, K.S. Baby Vinod, assistant commissioner, Traffic West, confirmed the concerns raised by the traders and said the police would be carrying out surprise inspections to check the menace.
“The inspections will start from this week itself and strict action will be taken against the violators. In addition, policemen will be posted to prevent parking on the road shoulders,” the official said.
