Collector’s efforts fail to make impact

Kochi: Even the District Collector’s efforts to get rid  of  haphazard parking along the busiest M G Road have failed to succeed. Collector M.G Rajamanickam who served as the acting Mayor for a couple of weeks had inspected the cellar parking lots of commercial complexes along the road and served notice to those owners who had converted the space to godowns or generator rooms.

Though the one week notice was served on November 10 to take corrective measures within a week, the violators are yet to respond to it.

In the statutory provisional notice issued to shop owners, the collector had asked them to provide enough parking spaces in proportion with the built-up area.

Mr. Rajamanickam had also warned that if the building owners failed to comply with the notice, the Corporation would initiate steps to convert the godown and cellar areas for which the builders have to bear the expense.

The inspection was following widespread complaints against conversion of parking lots for other purposes by many commercial complexes following which customers and others are forced to park along congested roads.

Unauthorised parking along footpaths often results in traffic congestion at MG Road which is already hit by the ongoing Metro Rail works. Though the City Corporation has proposed a parking bylaw it is yet to be enforced.

Meanwhile, there are allegations that the authorities are not keen on taking follow-up measures.

“The inspection and the notice served to violators were just an eyewash. Unscrupulous civic officials often connived with building owners to relax norms,” alleged a civic expert.

 

 

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