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Haphazard parking adds to city traffic woes

By STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Dec 6 � With the district administration apparently turning a blind eye, haphazard parking of vehicles on the either side of busy roads like GS Road, GNB Road and the RG Baruah Road, besides several other locations of Guwahati have emerged as a major civic problem.

Apart from it aggravating the already disarray vehicular traffic system, the irresponsible attitude of a section of people has even made the city vulnerable to subversive activities.

Unlike a few years back, the problem of haphazard parking is now also evident before shopping malls, marriage halls and restaurants, a view of which at peak evening hours epitomizes the laid-back attitude of the Government, besides the police department.

A resident of Guwahati and a senior citizen rues saying, �Where in the country will you see that the permission for a marriage hall is given without even considering the available parking area. The stretch from Ganeshguri to Ulubari alone houses at least seven to eight marriage halls, if not more and most of them lack adequate parking provisions.�

Citing a personal experience, he said: �A few days back, I got stuck in the traffic jam near Lachit Nagar around 8 pm. It took over an hour for the traffic to ease out. Later did I realize that two marriage reception parties were being hosted in two adjacent marriage halls near Bora Service at the same time, which had led to the ordeal on the street.�

�Those attending the marriage party had parked the vehicles along the roads and there were more in the queue. I was taken aback when I saw some traffic police personnel stationed there turning a blind eye,� he said.

�I wonder how the authority concerned can allow such a mess to continue day after day,� lamented the senior citizen.

Alokesh Pathak, another resident of Guwahati and an employee of a private firm, said: �Roads in Guwahati are already narrow and haphazard parking especially in front of malls like Dona Tower and even near Big Bazaar (Rajgarh side) covers half the width of the road. Vehicles with red light on top too are no exception.�

�What is even more surprising is that the police department does not seem interested in taking any drastic step to dissuade people from repeating their mistakes,� he added.

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