The authorities are employing carrot and stick approach to make the motorists aide by the traffic rules. While traders and hotel owners in MP Nagar Zone 1 are being offered passes for newly developed multi-level parking, the authorities have warned errant motorists to be ready to face penalty. The parking inaugurated last month, mostly remain vacant as hotel owners and business persons here are using open spaces to park their vehicles.
All the vehicles including four and two-wheelers could be seen parked outside hotels and business establishments, thus defeating the very purpose of developing a multi-level parking at the commercial hub of the city. Currently, less than 400 two wheelers and similar number of four wheelers are being parked in the new parking space.
To motivate people to use multi-level parking, collector Sudam Khade, deputy inspector general (DIG) Irshaad Wali and BSCDCL chief executive officer (CEO) Sanjay Kumar on Tuesday cleverly chose venue of their meeting, none other than the newly developed parking lot. Local businessman, shopkeepers, traders were also called at the meeting as the authorities were eager to the reasons for their reluctance to use the newly developed parking lot.
The parking lot has all safety system and even the parking rates were very reasonable, then why was it not used, the authorities asked the traders. The businessmen were quite open in voicing their issues. They rued that the parking lot was too far and the visitors coming to hotels and showroom prefer parking their vehicles in front of the establishment. Gathering was informed that Bhopal Smart City Development Corporation Limited (BSCDCL) was offering passes at reasonable rate to business persons to induce them to use multi-level parking.
On being informed that the parking is available at concessional rate of Rs 150 for two-wheeler and Rs 450 for four-wheelers per month, many agreed to use it. They were also informed that traffic police would now tow the vehicle found parked in front of hotels and showrooms. On the spot fine would be slapped on errant drivers, they were told.
