Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to issue notices to hospitals, commercial establishments and offices that are operating without adequate vehicle parking facilities.
Sources said these establishments will be directed to create proper parking spaces within their premises.
Mayor Sulochana Das said the move aims to ease traffic congestion across key stretches of the city. BMC will work closely with the Commissionerate Police to map out available public spaces near areas notified as no-parking zones, she said.
While the move to mark major stretches as no-parking zones seeks to
reduce traffic snarls, the decision needs to be implemented only after identifying alternate parking spaces, Das said.
Noting that several corporators have voiced concerns that vehicles have no place to go once these no-parking zones are enforced, she said discussion will be held with the government for initiating steps to locate suitable public spots that can be used as parking areas.
She voiced concern that several hospitals, restaurants and commercial complexes are functioning without providing sufficient parking, which forces visitors to leave their vehicles on the roadside. In a particular hospital, staff vehicles are given priority inside the campus, while visitors are made to park along the road nearby. “Notices will be issued to such establishments asking them to arrange proper parking. Large hospitals will be asked to set up multi-level parking structures,” said Das.
The Mayor further stated that the BMC will expedite work on the multi-level parking project at Unit-VI, which has been delayed.