GUWAHATI, Sept 15 � The Association of Architects, Assam (AAA), has welcomed the decision of the administration to make the arterial roads of the city parking-free zones.
AAA president Tikendrajit Saikia told this newspaper that while the administration�s step to keep the major city roads free from parking is a welcome one, the administration should go for linking parking facilities with the licensing of the shopping malls, commercial establishments etc, in the later phase.
Or else, Saikia said, the administration should move the court for a caveat, in view of the legal complications that may arise from this step.
He also called for steps to encourage construction of private parking plazas to do away with the present chaos in the area of parking of vehicles in various areas of the city. For the purpose, the authorities may go for a scheme to extend subsidy or interest-free soft loan to the private parties, Saikia said.
Moreover, the authorities may also go for a system of automobile vehicle off-day once in a month to inculcate the habit of walking and cycling among the Guwahatians, he said.
He also suggested that the automobile dealers should be compelled to ascertain whether they are selling their vehicles to those who have parking spaces. The District Transport Officer�s office should also be made to ascertain this fact before registering any vehicle.
Because of the lack of such a rule, in many city areas the main roads have become the garage for many vehicle owners. In this connection, the names of the areas like Lakhtokia, AT Road, SJ Road, FA Road, among others, may be cited, he said.
He also pleaded for banning cycle rickshaws� entry to the main roads of the city.
It needs mention here that the Commissioner of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) issued a public notice on September 10, 2014, directing all commercial, institutional and government establishments located along the AT Road, GS Road, MG Road, Md Tayebullah Road and the GNB Road, particularly from the Bharalumukh point to the Ulubari point (via Judges� Field and Guwahati Club) and from the Bharalumukh point to the Ulubari point (via AT Road and Paltan Bazar) to designate and arrange their own parking places as per the provisions of the Building Byelaw within 30 days from the issue of this notice, so that the vehicles attracted to these establishments do not use the AT Road, GS Road, MG Road, Md Tayebullah Road and GNB Road, particularly from the Bharalumukh point to the Ulubari point, as parking places.
