The Shivamogga City Corporation on Friday launched a drive to initiate action against owners of commercial buildings who are illegally using the parking space for commercial activities.
The corporation has identified 86 such commercial buildings in the city. This practice has resulted in the parking of vehicles in a haphazard manner on the footpath, which his consequently causing traffic snarls.
The civic body had issued notice to the owners of all 86 commercial buildings, cautioning them of stern action if they continued this practice. On Friday, a team of officials of the corporation cleared the ground floor of as many as six buildings in downtown areas, including Durgigudi, Gandhi Nagar, and Balaraj Urs Road.
The floors had been reserved for parking in the original building plans, but they were being utilised for commercial purposes. In addition to this, officials also cleared a tea stall and a chaat centre that had come up on the footpath at Tilak Nagar.
A few private hospitals in these localities have requested the civic body for 15 days’ time to vacate the wards they have set up on the ground floor.
Meanwhile, Shivamogga Nagarika Hitarakshana Vedikegala Okkootta, a civil society organisation, welcomed the initiative of the city corporation.
