Mumbai: Kandivali locals offer parking space to auto rickshaws

In a first of its kind initiative, the residents of Kandivali east, tired of illegal parking of autos on the road, have gathered to arrange a parking lot exclusively for auto rickshaws. One of the constant complaints received by the traffic cops were the rampant illegal parking of autos on roads that caused congestion.

The parking lot, in Thakur Complex, has the capacity of letting 350-400 vehicles and will be operated by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Regular cars are also parked inside. The auto drivers — who mostly ferry people to Kandivali and Borivali railway stations — parked their vehicles on road causing traffic during morning and evening peak hours.

"We had been complaining about these rickshaws, which were illegally being parked on the road. In a scurry, there was lot of congestion on road which made it difficult for private motorists to maneuver vehicles," said Sanjay Jaiswal, resident of Thakur Complex.

The residents held meetings with the local traffic police and the BMC to address this issue. Before the parking lot idea, the traffic cops were clamping the wheels of illegally parked vehicles on road including autos to prevent them from parking. The locals claim that this, however, created rifts between them and the drivers who objected to clamping of vehicles.

The local residents claim that not all auto-drivers park inside this 24-hour parking lot as they have to pay Rs 1200 a month. "They find parking on road cheaper despite the fact that they have been provided public parking facility for cheap. They park on roads outside our buildings and when we ask them to ply then they refuse," said N Patil, another resident of Thakur Complex.

As of now, there are 4,500 auto rickshaw stands across the western and eastern suburbs. "These stands have got eliminated whenever any repair work is undertaken on road by agencies involved in supplying gas, electricity or even BMC. There is barely 5 percent stands available now," said Thampi Kurien, leader, Mumbai Rickshawmen's Union.

"The areas in Kandivali east and west have too many rickshaws while little space for parking. This parking lot will definitely ease congestion on road and also people will know that at least here autos will be easily available," said a traffic police officer.

The locals have also implemented odd-even numbers parking here for those who park the vehicles on road. On odd days, vehicles should be parked on the right while on even days vehicles will be parked on the left. Boards too have been installed for the same.

MANAGING THE MENACE

• Locals have also implemented odd-even parking for those who park the vehicles on road 
   
• On odd days, vehicles should be parked to the right while on even days to the left