Sambalpur, Feb. 16: Lack of parking lots in the city is one of the major reasons behind traffic congestion.

The worst affected area is Golebazar in the heart of the city. Apart from housing a big market, the area is home to many offices as well.

Vehicles are seen parked in front of the shops from Laxmi Talkies to Ashoka Talkies and Ainthapali and on other roads of the city. “The municipality should identify lands for parking space,” said Siva Nanda, a resident.

“The shopping malls and the business establishments should create parking area for their customers. Moreover, commercial establishments have been constructed on some government land, which were earlier used as parking place,” he said.

“Police are making rounds in the city and slapping fine on the flouters. However, the traffic congestion problem can not be solved until parking space is developed,” said district superintendent of police Nikhil Kanodia. “After the road widening work is over, we would identify a land for the parking place in the city,” said executive officer of the municipality Subash Chandra Sathia.

However, municipality chairperson Reena Trivedi said: “There is no land for the parking space in the city. However, we had planned to draw a parking line after the eviction, but it failed,” she said.