Shortage of parking space increases traffic woes in city

High traffic density and shortage of parking space are among the various problems plaguing the city. Tumakuru city is growing bigger into a place of educational, economic and administrative importance. However, the Mahanagara Palike has forgotten to regulate traffic and provide parking space to keep up with the city’s growth.

It was only a few years ago that Tumakuru was declared a City Corporation. Taking into account the increasing density of population and vehicles, traffic safety and systematic administration, parking spaces could have been identified at various places in the city. However, this has not been done to date, complain the residents.

Two-wheelers, cars, goods vehicles and autorickshaws all vie for space on the streets of Tumakuru. The high traffic density on the streets is enough to frustrate anyone who leaves their home to go out to work. Once they get to work, parking spots are hard to find. Either sides of major roads and markets have turned into parking zones. Whether or not it is allowed for them to park in such places, motorists are forced to park their vehicles wherever they can find space.

Lack of parking space is rather acute on MG Road, Court Road, BH Road, SIT Road and also in Mandipete and behind the deputy commissioner’s office.

On MG Road, traffic police have made provisions for cars to be parked on one side of the road and two-wheelers on the other side. Despite this, many people cannot find space to park their vehicles. Owners of shops on MG Road often complain in this regard.

The Palike owns many vacant sites in important areas of the city. The Palike seems to have forgotten about the existence of these sites. They have now turned into slums or into garbage dumpyards. Instead, they could be cleaned up and turned into parking lots. However, the civic body is not bothered to create parking space for the public, accuse residents.

As a part of the Smart City project, there is a proposal for creating parking space. However, who will solve the present problem? Should the space crunch remain until the Smart City project is implemented? These are questions that Tumakuru residents have for the Mahanagara Palike.