Bhubaneswar, Oct. 28: Parking signboards installed by public works department to ease traffic congestion at various points have failed to meet the purpose as no one abides by the rules.

Signage ask people not to park vehicles within 30 metres on each side of major traffic junctions, but four and two-wheelers queue up in front of it.

The public works department had installed 20 boards at major traffic junctions in consultation with police. Even as no commuter adheres to the rules, the administration it seems has also decided to look the other way.

The cops, too, have washed their hands off citing manpower crunch.

The restrictions were considered necessary as autorickshaws, buses and cars parked near traffic squares were causing congestion and serious disruption in vehicular movement.

The managers deputed at various such junctions to man traffic are also not aware about the rules. One of them, who did not wish to be named, said he issued parking tickets as he thought that the restriction was only on autorickshaws, and not on cars.

Works department executive engineer (Division I) Bikram Keshari Lenka said: "The police requested us to place the signage at major squares so that vehicles can ply smoothly. We will definitely co-ordinate with the cops and civic authorities to keep these spaces free."

Assistance commissioner of police (ACP), traffic, Jatindra Panda said he expected commuters to obey the rule. "As we have limited numbers of traffic cops, guarding all these points is not possible. We hope that the problems will be sorted once the new parking lots under the Rajmahal flyover and in the median between Unit-I Market and AG Square start functioning," said Panda.

Md Ishaq, a corporation official in-charge of parking, said: "The restrictions of 30 metres on each sides of the signage near square should be respected by all. If at all any vendor is collecting parking fees near these signage, he will be asked not to do this from tomorrow."

Civil engineer and resident of Unit-VI Subhakanta Swain said: "The parking restriction near squares is a must, as it helps in smooth flow of traffic. The police and civic authorities should enforce it strictly."

"Not only parking of vehicles near restricted zones, but parking of two-wheelers on the footpaths by the vendors designated by the civic body results in blockage of the walking area along the Janpath. The civic authorities should look into it. It will make the life of common people, especially pedestrians much easier," said senior citizen Nrupa Kishore Patnaik.