KMC draws blue line to stop illegal parking at Hatibagan, marks out slots
Times of India | 1 July 2024
Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has drawn a blue-and-white line on the road in Hatibagan, demarcating parking areas.
The parking zone has been marked out on one side of Bidhan Sarani from Fariapukur to the Hatibagan crossing. Similar lines will be drawn in New Market and Behala for vehicles to be parked within. The civic body will also mark out parking slots on Rash Behari Avenue, at places where it missed out earlier.
With hawkers hardly following norms and parking areas being usurped by stalls on the roads, walking in Hatibagan used to be a challenge.Following the recent reprimand from chief minister Mamata Banerjee, KMC swiftly took action and drew the blue line along the stretch between Fariapukur and Hatibagan on Saturday night. The line offers a demarcated space for vehicles to be parked there.
Debasish Kumar, mayor-in-council member (MMiC) for parking, said on Sunday, “The same blue line demarcation was earlier implemented at Gariahat and now it has been replicated in Hatibagan. We have identified New Market and Behala as the next locations to draw these blue lines. This drive aims to encourage systematic parking across the city’s market places.” Kumar stressed that no vehicle will be allowed to cross the line while parked.
A member of the Town Vending Committee (TVC) said, “The parking zone around Hatibagan market had disappeared as it had been encroached upon by hawkers.”
Hawkers at Hatibagan, too, conceded this move would help them carry out business in a systematic manner. Ashit Saha, a jewellery stall owner, said, “Earlier, people would park haphazardly. Now, the scene might change and a cleaner look of the place may help us attract more customers.”
In Gariahat, a blue line had been drawn before the CM’s directions. But people still collect parking fees from vehicle owners who leave their cars elsewhere. The stretch from Gariahat to Rashbehari also had similar issues. Responding to it, Kumar said that KMC officials will draw a fresh line for demarcation if any portion has been missed.