Comitted to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 4 Num 125 Mon. September 29, 2003  
   
Star City


Special fTorce to fine wrong parking


As the government plans to build at least three multi-storied car parks in Motijheel, it has apparently forgotten to form a separate force to impose fines for wrong parking. At present, some sergeants occasionally hand out fines to vehicles parked wrongly on the city streets.

Traffic experts said, until the authorities, as in the case of developed countries, form a special force to impose on-the-spot fines, the multi-storied car parks would not be economically viable. This special team of people could walk around the commercial districts of the city and hand down the penalties. The special team of people, both male and female workers could also help the government earn enough revenue to keep the force employed. In every developed country the traffic department has a separate section to fine parking related offenders on the streets. When the motorists are fined for wrong parking, they would definitely look for proper parking space.

The entire city is now suffering from acute parking problems. For instance, in Motijheel during peak hours it might take an hour to find a proper parking place. The spaces along the main roads are taken over by rows of vehicles illegally parked without any intervention from the law enforcing authorities. In Karwan Bazar, the 100 feet wide road shrinks to 20 feet as buses, cars, taxis and CNGs occupy the roads illegally. These motorists would only look for proper parking when the authorities are tough on the offenders.

An expert on traffic management said that the authorities, especially RAJUK would also have to ensure that the mushrooming market complexes in the city followed the construction rules and built adequate number of parking on their premises. No matter how many stories of parking facilities are coming up, if all these markets start functioning the city managers would have take strong action against offenders.