Berhampur: The civic body has declared the one kilometre stretch from Kamapalli railway overbridge to Tata Benz Square as a "No Parking Zone" to tackle traffic congestion.

The two-lane road is considered as one of the busiest roads in the city. However, parking in front of shops on the narrow roads created difficulty in vehicular movement, forcing the civic body to swing into action.

"We have developed the demolished old fish market site into a parking lot for vehicles. The owners of shops and customers will park their vehicles at this new lot and stop parking along the road immediately," said municipal commissioner Nikhil Pavan Kalyan.

Traffic deputy superintendent of police Thakur Prasad Patra said: "We are now creating awareness about the initiative and requesting the public to cooperate. The police have buckled up to implement this order. We will make announcements decision the lot at the old fish market in the public address system. If any anyone violates the order, we will fine them according to law. We will not allow roadside parking anymore."

The Berhampur Municipal Corporation has issued notices to every roadside shopowner from the railway overbridge to Tata Benz Square to help them tackle traffic congestion. Shopowners have been asked to put up "No Parking" boards in front of their shops. The civic body will also deploy some officials to ensure safety of vehicles at the lot. Shopowners would get a pass and be allowed to park free of cost, while a nominal amount would be charged from others, civic sources said.

The civic body will also put "No Parking Zone" signage along the road.