Bhubaneswar: In a major push to tackle rampant illegal parking, ease traffic congestion, and improve road safety, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the city police have jointly identified more than 400 ‘no-parking zones’ across the Odisha capital.
Of these, the police have marked 21 critical longer stretches as high-priority no-parking areas, while BMC has focused on smaller stretches, many near institutions. Key police-identified stretches include routes such as Raj Bhawan Square to Kalarahanga via Jaydev Vihar, Airport to Nalco Square via Acharya Vihar, and others like Rajmahal to Jaydev Vihar and Shishu Bhavan Square to Rajmahal.
Additional Commissioner Kailash Chandra Dash explained the division of responsibilities: towing services have been handed over to the city police, while BMC will handle the selection, maintenance, and revenue from designated parking lots. “We have selected lots most of which will be free of any type of parking. The list will be available with the police also. For public convenience, we will put out the list of parking lots on the BMC website as well,” Dash told TOI.
BMC officials noted that no-parking zones have been identified in all 67 wards and will eventually feature proper signboards with dos and don’ts. These zones are dynamic and can be revised based on pedestrian and vehicular traffic patterns.
Enforcement and Penalties
Meanwhile, police have begun installing no-parking boards, though vehicles continue to occupy some marked stretches. Violators face fines of Rs 1,000 for four-wheelers and Rs 100 for two-wheelers, payable via cash or card with receipts from handheld machines. Towed vehicles will be strictly enforced, particularly on longer stretches.
A senior police officer highlighted a common challenge: “Once towing vehicles pass a particular ‘no-parking’ stretch, people assume they won’t return soon and park there anyway”. BMC will oversee parking operations and revenue, while police focus on enforcement.
Public Reaction and Broader Concerns
The initiative addresses a long-standing issue in Bhubaneswar, where haphazard parking of cars and motorcycles creates eyesores, causes traffic snarls, and blocks thoroughfares—especially near shopping malls, markets, and offices. Janpath stands out as a relatively organised exception with designated roadside parking.
On X (formerly Twitter), residents welcomed the move but raised practical questions. One user noted, “Declaring no-parking zones is only half the solution. The bigger question is: where should people park? Many commercial establishments either lack parking facilities or have converted their designated parking areas into shops or storage.” Others called for better last-mile connectivity and enforcement against establishments violating parking norms.
Critics have pointed to instances of towing without clear signage, while some praise improved infrastructure like designated spaces in certain areas.
