BHUBANESWAR: As parking problems escalate in residential areas due to rising commercial activities, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to conduct an extensive survey across various wards to formulate plans for regulating parking and commercial operations.
During a corporation meeting on Wednesday, BMC corporators expressed concerns over this mounting issue in the city’s lanes and by-lanes, prompting a lengthy discussion aimed at assessing the severity of the problem.
“The parking situation is a major concern for the city, and we are actively seeking solutions. Initial discussions have taken place. Hospitals and similar institutions must collaborate to create adequate parking spaces. Their refusal to allow all vehicles to park within their premises forces individuals to park outside. Additionally, with eateries and shops often opening nearby, customers frequently park in front of these establishments, further constricting roadway access,” stated Mayor Sulochana Das.
BMC officials noted they will also examine whether commercial entities are operating in violation of regulations, such as lacking a trade license or failure to pay holding taxes. “The trend of transforming private residential areas for commercial purposes is on the rise, but public convenience must be prioritized. In areas where commercial activities are excessive, it may be necessary to establish market clusters or identify multiple parking lots to direct traffic away from shop fronts,” explained a BMC representative.
In Bhubaneswar’s northern zone, from Jayadev Vihar to KIIT Square, neighborhoods like Niladri Vihar, Sailashree Vihar, Chandrasekharpur, and Maitri Vihar are becoming increasingly disorganized as residential zones shift to commercial centers. “The emergence of hotels and convention halls in densely populated regions exacerbates the parking dilemma. If cars occupy the roadside, residents struggle to navigate through congested spaces to get home, sometimes leading to altercations. An effective, long-term solution is urgently needed,” commented architect Debashis Rana.
Moreover, upscale areas such as Sahid Nagar, Satya Nagar, Bapuji Nagar, and Old Town are already facing similar issues, according to sources.
