Commercial complexes fail to provide parking facilities
Commercial complexes in the city, at least a majority of them, do not have parking facilities for vehicles. A review of 21 commercial complexes in the state capital conducted on Thursday revealed only five of them had parking space.This despite Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) several attempts to enforce commercial complexes to create parking spaces in their basements.
Commercial complexes in the city, at least a majority of them, do not have parking facilities for vehicles. A review of 21 commercial complexes in the state capital conducted on Thursday revealed only five of them had parking space.
This despite Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) several attempts to enforce commercial complexes to create parking spaces in their basements.
Ajay Singh, City SP Dehradun, who was part of a committee that reviewed parking areas said: “There’s no doubt about the fact that due to unavailability of parking areas in the commercial buildings, vehicles are parked abruptly on the main road. We have reviewed some commercial complexes in this regard and will take action against those who have not readily provided their basement for parking as per MDDA norms.”
Uttarakhand Town and Urban Planning rules clearly mandate that basement of commercial complex should be provided as parking space.
One of the prominent buildings flouting the norms include Amartex complex where Domino’s and other stores like KFC, Bank of Baroda and Kamini Sarees are located. Due to high footfall, all the vehicles coming to this building are parked on the extended area outside the building. Needless to say, traffic jams on the main Rajpur Road are a common sight.
In 2011, Amartex, a super store was using the basement of Amartex complex as its storeroom. The MDDA demolished the illegal construction in the basement and also destroyed the articles kept there. Ever since then, the basement area is deserted and unutilised. No action was taken against the complex owners, as some of the top brands like KFC and Domino’s are located in the same building.
Following the Thursday review of commercial complexes, the MDDA report said: “construction of parking is incomplete due to lack of power supply in the basements of the buildings.”
Similarly, Raj Plaza, which is prominently located on Rajpur Road near Dilaram Market, has more than 100 shops running in the complex.
Its basement was also converted into shops which MDDA demolished in 2008. Despite repeated inspections, the basement wasn’t used for parking purpose. MDDA authorities even sent a notice to Plaza in 2012, but to no avail.
The complex of Iqbal Wasu near Mayur Auto was found locked during the inspection. The basement of Shiva Complex too, was found locked.
So why has MDDA failed to take cognizance of this issue till now?
MDDA vice chairman R Meenakshi Sundaram MDDA said “We are working gradually to make basement of commercial complexes available for parking purpose. We are thoroughly aware that these basements if run properly can offer ample space to locals for parking allowing smooth flow of traffic. Police will have to see if vehicles are parked at parking space or not. We are jointly working on this issue.”