Bhubaneswar, April 2: The on-street parking on Janpath between Ram Mandir Square and Rajmahal Square, which started in the second week of December, is creating confusion as only four-wheelers are allowed to use the space meant for all types of vehicles.
The parking lot managers, employed by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), force the two-wheeler owners to use the footpath.
On a pilot basis, the civic authorities, in association with the police, started the on-street parking between Master Canteen and Rajmahal Square and later extended it up to Ram Mandir Square. Markings have been made on the road for parking of all types of vehicles. But the managers allow only cars to use the spaces.
"I have seen the managers preventing two-wheelers to use the parking space. Instead they asked me to park my bike on the footpath. I think they are not aware of the arrangements," said Sabyaschi Das, a resident of Old Town.
Raj Das, a student, who visited Ashok Nagar to purchase shoes last week, said: "The managers are creating confusions by not allowing vehicles other than four-wheelers to use the parking spaces. They think that only car owners are allowed to park their vehicles there."
On the other hand, when the on-street parking model was adopted by the civic body, spaces were designated for cars, three-wheelers and two-wheelers.
Urban management practitioner Piyush Rout said: "The streets were widened by felling so many trees. And now when the first lane near footpaths has been turned into parking lots, some vehicles are parked on the footpaths. This defeats the whole purpose."
Rout said the civic authorities should have checked if the on-street parking lots were used properly.
BMC deputy commissioner in-charge of on-street parking Subhransu Mishra said: "The managers are not yet selected on a permanent basis as not a single agency is sticking to its commitment of managing the parking lots."
"The concept is a new one. Officially we have allowed only the space near Unit I market for on-street parking," said a senior civic official.
