Commercial complexes encroach parking space: Former MLA

Although Mangaluru city is developing fast and is a part of the Smart City project, the civic authorities have failed to give an organised shape to the city.

Former MLA Vijaykumar Shetty, in a press release, said that the increase in traffic congestion in the city has caused inconvenience to the city dwellers.

"The City Corporation has failed to provide proper parking facilities. If a person unintentionally parks his/her vehicle in front of business establishments in the city, he/she will surely find private security personnel approaching in no time asking him/her to move from the area. Thanks to the silence of the civic body, the public property and the main roads in the city are fast getting converted into a "private" parking lots," he said.

"There is a rule that commercial complexes have to provide set back areas and parking lots, but all the rules have been flouted by the building owners in the city. Moreover, the MCC land in front of the commercial complexes are encroached upon and 'No Parking' board has come up in its place, which is clear violation of the rules," said Shetty.

Citing the example of a mall, Shetty said that parking fee is collected illegally from vehicle owners for parking their vehicles in the parking lot.

As per the rules, the "No Parking" board should be put by the MCC and not by commercial building owners. Unfortunately, it is vice versa in Mangaluru city.

No parking space

Further, he said that about 80% of the buildings do not have parking space. "Many have erected chain barricades reserving parking. The MCC officials led by Mayor Kavitha Sanil had removed such barricades recently, but, they were back once the officials left the spot. If the MCC fails to consider the issue of encroachment of its land in front of commercial complexes seriously, then the parking problem in the city will aggravate," he rued.

Shetty said that majority of the business establishments have encroached the public property for parking purposes on busy stretches of MG Road, KS Rao Road, Shivbagh road and Highland in Attavar. In spite of noticing 'No Parking' boards in front of the commercial complexes, the officials have remained mute spectators.

Shetty said that although the traffic police have identified 55 commercial buildings that have not made provisions for parking in the basement and have converted footpath into parking space. "The police have submitted a report to the MCC to initiate action under Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act 1976. However, the MCC has turned a blind eye to such illegalities," he said.