Illegal parking in front of a hotel at Palamandap near Badambadi in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, April 8: Commissionerate police have now geared up to end traffic congestion on major city roads.

The police feel that the lack of adequate parking provisions is leading to traffic snarls on busy thoroughfares.

To end the chaos on city roads, the police have decided to evict illegal parking lots outside hotels and various kalyan mandaps here.

To address the issue, sources said that a sub-committee comprising officials from the traffic department, Cuttack Municipal Corporation, members of the high court constituted advocates’ panel and several others would conduct a study.

However, the decision to act tough against hotels and kalyan mandaps was taken as illegal parking in front of these facilities obstructed the free flow of traffic during social functions and marriage ceremonies.

Stern action will also be initiated against hotels that allow customers to park vehicles on the road.

“It has been found that there is utter chaos on the road in front of various hotels that allow vehicles to be parked outside their premises as they do not have adequate parking provisions,” said a senior traffic official.

The meeting of the traffic management committee also decided to penalise violators and tow away vehicles parked on the roadside. A minimum fine of Rs 500 would be imposed on such violators.

Notices have already been issued to a few clubs for not having adequate parking provisions on their campuses.

Similarly, after sensitising hotel owners on the issue, action would be taken against the guilty, an official added.

The police officials said that as per high court orders, efforts were being initiated to streamline the city’s existing traffic system.

In keeping with the effort, the entire stretch from Gadachandi to Barabati fort has been declared as ‘no-parking zone’ and stern action will be taken against those parking their vehicles on that road.

From April 15, similar fines would be imposed on those who would violate the traffic signal at Satichoura.

Satichoura was declared a no-tolerance zone last month and at present awareness campaign in the area focussed on prescribed guidelines. No fines were being collected from the violators.

This apart, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation has been asked to submit a list of various registered and unregistered kalyan mandaps in the city. This drive would help to identify kalyan mandaps that are operating without requisite licence and parking facilities on their premises. The kalyan madaps would also be served notices to earmark parking provisions and deploy private security guards.