Paid parking on M.G. Road from today

M.G. Road, Vellayambalam-Sasthamangalam stretch to be developed as model stretches

A paid parking system along with demarcated ‘No Parking’ and ‘Parking’ zones, an experiment launched by the City police and the Corporation Administrative Committee, and a continuation of the traffic optimisation efforts launched a few months ago by the police, will be in effect from Palayam to East Fort on M.G. Road from 8 a.m. on Friday.

While this 2.8-km stretch will be the first road for the experiment, a similar initiative will be launched on the 1.2-km Vellayambalam-Sasthamangalam stretch as well, most probably on Monday. Police officers said traffic wardens would be manning the demarcated zones with one of them to be posted every 400 metres in the beginning and gradually, as more hands would be available, one every 200 metres.

Parking rate

The idea, as of now, was to charge Rs.2 per hour for two-wheelers and Rs.10 per hour for four-wheelers.

“The rates are temporary. Once the new Corporation council comes into being, the rates and the mode of collection of the fee too will be finalised, that is, if the new council decides to continue with the paid parking system,” a senior police officer said.

He said the system was intended at streamlining the traffic flow through the stretch while helping to do away with illegal and obstructive parking.

Also, the City police plan to develop these two stretches as model roads following a circular issued by the State Police Chief calling for model roads in every city in the State.

Designated stretches

The model road concept will have the designated stretches developed with no roadside encroachments, clear footpaths, proper road markings, strict enforcement of rules, including lane systems, helmet/seat belt rules, no U-turns and so on, apart from necessary traffic signboards.

The idea, according to K. Sanjay Kumar Gurudin, Deputy Commissioner (Law and Order), was to inspire a culture of following traffic rules. While the M.G. Road and Vellayambalam-Sasthamangalam road would be developed on these lines, the launch of the paid parking system would be accompanied by a traffic awareness campaign as well, with pamphlets to be distributed across the city, on the road and in homes.