Parking problems near Unit-II Market in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, June 2: Motorists going for shopping at the Unit-II market are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the lack of proper parking space.

At present, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has prohibited parking inside the complex. As a result, people are being forced to park their vehicles outside at their own risk.

The problem has become acute in the last two months, as the road near the market has been facing recurrent traffic jams with hundreds of vehicles parked there.

“The peak hours are the most difficult to handle and problems increase, especially on festive occasions,” said a resident of the area.

The only parking area available is in front of the BMC Keshari Mall and behind the Western Tower of the market, but that is too small considering the incessant flow of shoppers and their vehicles.

Sources said the BMC barred two-wheeler parking inside the complex keeping in mind the beautification programme. Small shops set up by roadside vendors were also dismantled for the purpose.

The parking area demolished inside the complex was about 10,000sqft where more than 300 two-wheelers used to be parked. Although this move was made to ensure that the marketing space gets bigger and wider, no space has been left for parking space.

“Without a proper parking space the fear of vehicles getting stolen continues to play on our minds,” said Niranjan Pujari, a shopper. Fortunately, no vehicle theft has been reported till now, but there is no denying the fact that two-wheeler owners are the worst sufferers of this parking problem.

The mad rush to park the vehicles in vacant places is a common sight in the area. Anand Sahoo, a Nayapalli resident, said once he had to wait for over 30 minutes to find a place to park his motorcycle outside the market. Four-wheeler owners, too, have started complaining.

According to Rabi Mahanty, president of Central Market Association, BMC officials were aware of the problem and were expected to make alternative arrangements soon.

Mahanty, however, supported the demolition of the parking area inside the market area saying it was necessary to make shopping a pleasant experience for the people. “Nonetheless, the area needs a proper parking lot,” he said.

Sabitri Tripathy, a 60-year-old resident of Nayapalli, who often visits the market, however, is pleased with the demolition of the parking lot within the complex to make way for cement benches where people can sit and relax.

“The recent demolition of the parking place inside the market area was to facilitate the ongoing beautification programme. Soon a proper parking lot would in place after consultation with the city police,” said Anil Kumar Patnaik, BMC secretary.

Last year the BMC had taken up a Rs-80lakh project for the beautification of the market building.

According to BMC sources a sum of Rs 8lakh was set aside for constructing a parking area for which two spots were chosen but the work is yet to start. They hoped that the parking problem would be resolved soon.

A police officer, admitting that traffic disorder in the area was growing, said it was the responsibility of the BMC to create adequate parking space for all those coming to the market.