Nagpur: Over two years after its initial planning, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is moving forward with the expansion of on-street parking facilities across the city. With only 11 locations currently offering this service out of the intended 75, NMC and the Traffic Police Department are now aligned on introducing the facility at 49 additional sites. This collaboration follows a joint survey conducted at 60 potential locations, resulting in the identification of suitable spots for implementation.
The project, initiated in 2022, faced delays primarily due to NMC’s failure to consult the traffic police in finalizing locations initially. Consequently, on-street parking was only established at 11 locations over the past two years, following consent from the traffic police.
Recently, NMC and the Traffic Police Department conducted a joint survey at potential sites, ultimately agreeing on 49 locations for the introduction of on-street parking. The collaboration involved key officials such as NMC’s Executive Engineer R Bundhade and DCP (Traffic) Shashikant Satao.
During the survey, challenges such as insufficient width and heavy traffic movement led to the rejection of 10 previously identified locations. Additionally, disputes over demarcation between traffic police zones hindered decisions on over a dozen spots.
With the joint inspection completed, NMC is poised to issue notifications for on-street parking at the agreed-upon 49 spots in the near future. The initiative aims to enhance the city’s parking system, fostering organization and efficiency.
Traffic experts and city planners have welcomed the collaborative effort, emphasizing the need for sufficient parking space at both new commercial and residential buildings. Despite wide roads, Nagpur faces slow traffic movement, partly attributed to illegal use of parking areas for other purposes and blockages hindering access to designated parking spots.
In some instances, motorists, particularly four-wheeler drivers, have resorted to parking vehicles between the pillars of under-construction flyovers, such as those along Amravati Road between Law College Square and Bharat Nagar Chowk.
The collaborative endeavour between NMC and the Traffic Police Department marks a significant step towards addressing Nagpur’s parking challenges. As efforts continue to expand on-street parking facilities and regulate parking practices, the city aims to enhance traffic flow and ensure convenient parking options for its residents and visitors alike.
