Kochi Police in search of parking space

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The city police wants school grounds and public buildings thrown open to vehicles during Onam as parking is banned on the main roads.

While MG Road and East Fort areas anticipate heavy traffic for three days before Onam, the traffic density will shift towards Museum by Uthradom day.

“We have been asking schools like SMV, Attakulangara and educational institutions at Kaimanam to open their grounds for parking on temporary basis for the past two years. SMV did provide us space, but requests to government (education department) do not elicit quick reply and so we may contact schools on individual basis as dearth of parking space has become acute,” traffic CI (south) Satheesh Kumar M. R. said.

Though dedicating the corporation-owned Putharikandam ground exclusively for parking is seen as the panacea to all traffic woes in the commercial hub of Chalai and East Fort, the civic body will need it for Onam fairs also.

“Almost all the vehicles of shoppers in Chalai are parked on road always,” Mr Kumar said pointing to lack of permanent parking spaces.

Police had recently pulled up Novelty Textiles at Pazhavangadi, Pothys Textiles at Ayurveda College Junction, Jayalakshmi Textiles at Overbridge and QRS Mall for their inadequate parking.

Meanwhile, the reopening of Jimmy George Stadium has come as a solace to the north division as a hundred additional cars of visitors who come to Kanakakunnu can be accommodated in the new parking lot here.

“We will write a letter to stadium officials and a planning meeting will be held on Tuesday,” traffic (north) assistant commissioner Mohanan Nair T. said.

For those coming to the museum, only one side parking will be allowed on the stretch from Nandavanam to Bakery Junction which accommodates many cars during Onam.

As usual, maximum vehicles will be allowed on Public Office, Manaveeyam Road and Kowdiar Road, he added.