Gurgaon: Illegal parking outside mall irks Sector 50 residents

Residents said office-goers are often stranded on the lane during peak traffic hours owing to unauthorised parking

Random parking outside Baani Square Mall in Sector 50 has emerged has a cause for concern for residents in nearby areas.

Cars parked illegally outside the Baani Square Mall in Sector 50 impedes the movement of commuters. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

They said that the sector road has a narrow two-way lane and commuters often have trouble navigating the space due to unauthorised parking.

The road connects Bakhtawar Chowk, Sohna Road and Rajeev Chowk to Huda City Centre Metro station. Residents said thousands of commuters use this stretch and face regular hassles due to congestion.

Members of the Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) said they wrote to the civic authorities and the Gurgaon traffic police on October 14 detailing their concerns over unauthorised parking, but no action has been taken.

“Residents and commuters cannot even walk through the stretch, as vehicles are parked in a haphazard manner on both sides of the lane. It takes more than twenty minutes to cross the 10-metre stretch,” BC Goyal, president, RWA, Block B, Mayfield Gardens, said.

Residents said that the situation is especially worse during peak traffic hours, as thousands headed to their workplaces are stranded while trying to cross the stretch.

“Traffic police officers are deployed near the women police station, but despite regular congestion, they don’t bother to visit the stretch and resolve the parking issue. People visiting nearby eateries and other places often park their vehicles on the main road, resulting in congestion and a long line of stranded vehicles,” Lalit Saini, a resident of Block B, said.

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Residents said two-wheelers parked illegally on the pavements add to the chaos. They said delivery boys and couriers also park their motorbikes on the road.

While there’s a market and a shopping mall near the one-kilometre stretch, vendors sell vegetables on the pavement as well. These landmarks are frequently visited by residents of Mayfield Garden residents, Malibu Town and Nirvana Country.

Gurgaon traffic officials said they have already started a drive across the city against illegal parking and will take stringent action against the offenders. “We will inspect the area and will ensure that the issue is resolved,” Deepak Gahlawat, DCP (traffic), said.