State govt opens Parkomat for private vehicles

The state government has allowed the owners of private vehicles to park their cars at Parkomat (parking area) which is opposite to the Writers’ Buildings.  

Such initiatives of the state government will increases the income of the Public Works Department (PWD) and facilitate the traffic movement in areas surrounding BBD Bag.

Private organizations hiring space to park their vehicles will have to pay Rs 5,000. Around 600 vehicles can be parked at Parkomat. Around 200 vehicles from Lalbazar have been parked there.

The state government is also considering a proposal to set up more such parking areas in the city. It has also been proposed to set up a parking area on 23 cottahs land opposite to the new secretriat building where at present there is a panchayat office.       

Vehicles coming to the Assembly house, new secretariat building, city civil and Sessions court and High Court can be parked at Parkomat. PWD is considering proposals to set up Parkomats in other parts of the city.

The parkomat opposite Writer’s  Building became vacant after  most of the offices were shifted to Nabanna. The traffic department of the city police had also approached state government to use the Parkomat and make BBD bag area free for traffic movement.

A senior officer of the traffic department said that parking in central business district had become a major problem. As vehicles are parked on the road, the movement of traffic has slowed down causing traffic jams in the morning and evening peak hours. It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed to take steps to combat traffic jams and ensure smooth flow of traffic. He said that vehicles have been parked in vast areas surrounding the Assembly house and High Court. The vehicles were increasing and if steps were not taken, the situation will go out of control. “In case of major fire in the areas surrounding High Court, it will be difficult for the fire tenders to reach the spot.”

A senior official of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) said that construction of more such Parkomats in the city was a must to combat traffic snarls. He said that the parking policy framed would make the drive way free and thus increase speed  of vehicles.