In a significant move to tackle traffic congestion and streamline tourist movement, the Chandigarh administration has initiated concrete steps to establish designated parking zones for tourist buses. The action comes in direct response to directives issued by the Punjab & Haryana High Court.
High Court Directive Spurs Action
A crucial meeting was convened on Friday under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav. The primary agenda was to ensure compliance with the directions passed by the Punjab & Haryana High Court on April 9 in CWP No. 16127 of 2000. The meeting saw the participation of key officials, including the Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), representatives from the Municipal Corporation (MC), and the State Transport Authority (STA).
Proposed Parking Sites and Key Decisions
After detailed deliberations focused on decongesting key areas and ensuring smooth traffic flow, two locations were formally proposed as dedicated parking sites for tourist buses. These sites are at Hallomajra and Manimajra (specifically Sector 13).
The Deputy Commissioner issued clear instructions to the concerned departments. The Municipal Corporation was directed to finalize and fix the daily parking charges for these buses. Furthermore, the MC was asked to consider the feasibility of introducing monthly passes for regular tourist bus operators to simplify the process.
Ensuring basic amenities at these sites was also emphasized. The DC instructed the MC to provide necessary basic civic amenities at the designated parking locations to ensure convenience and safety.
Strict Monitoring and Enforcement Ordered
To prevent the problem from persisting, the State Transport Authority (STA) was given strict instructions to monitor unauthorized parking closely. The authority was directed to take stringent action against violators by issuing challans under the relevant laws.
DC Yadav stressed the importance of strict enforcement of the court's directions and called for effective coordination among all departments involved. He underscored the need for timely compliance and asked all stakeholders to expedite the implementation process. Officials have been tasked with submitting progress reports within a stipulated timeframe to ensure accountability.
Towards Systematic Traffic Management
This coordinated effort marks a proactive step by the Chandigarh administration to address long-standing issues of haphazard parking and traffic bottlenecks caused by tourist buses. By creating official parking zones with proper facilities and a robust enforcement mechanism, the city aims to enhance the experience for tourists while significantly improving daily traffic management for its residents. The move is expected to bring order and systematic planning to the movement of tourist vehicles in the Union Territory.
