Motorcycles parked outside a shopping mall in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Aug.6: Use of parking space for commercial purposes by several shopping malls, hotels and business establishments has emerged as one of the major reasons behind traffic chaos in the city.

Customers are forced to park their vehicles outside shops on some of the busy thoroughfares, which leads to severe traffic congestion.

Most of the hotels and shopping complexes in the city have provisions for parking in the basement. In their building plans, basements are shown as parking space.

However, it has been noticed that basements have been converted into conference halls and banquets. Many shopping malls also run kalyan mandaps and restaurants in their basement.

“The authorities have shut their eyes to such blatant deviations, encouraging the shopping mall owners to unlawfully use their basement for commercial purposes. The authorities concerned should intervene and take steps to resolve the problem,” said Gokula Pradhan, a commuter.

“One can see vehicles parked all along Laxmi Talkies Chhak to Golebazar Chhak Road, Church Chhak to Laxmi Talkies Chhak Road, VSS Marg and many other busy thoroughfares,” he said.

“The commercial complexes get their plans approved from the Sambalpur Development Authority. However, following construction the building, they deviate from the plan and use the parking space illegally,” said Pappu Pattnaik, another commuter.

The chairperson of Sambalpur Development Authority, Bijaya Kumar Mohanty, admitted that several shopping malls and hotels were using the designated parking space for business purposes. However, he said: “If the municipality and the administration initiate step to resolve this problem, the Sambalpur Development Authority will extend all co-operation.”

However, vice chairperson of Sambalpur Municipality Siddharth Saha said: “The Sambalpur Development Authority should send notice to commercial complexes that have deviated from their approved plans. The municipality will help them if they require manpower for this purpose.”