DAILY DRAMA OF HONKS, HUSTLE AND NO SPACE

While Resident Welfare Associations call for stricter control over vehicle sales, market associations are pushing for creation of multi-level parking facilities. Over seven lakh vehicles registered in Delhi last year alone. Delhi Police has ramped up efforts to tackle the issue.

- NITIN RAWAT @ New Delhi

THE national capital's growing parking crisis has turned the city's streets into daily battlegrounds, where drivers engage in a relentless struggle for scarce parking spaces.

From residential areas to bustling markets, the lack of space has led to honking, tempers flaring, and fuel being wasted as vehicles circle the blocks in search of vacant spots.

While Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) call for stricter control over vehicle sales, claiming that the rapidly increasing number of cars is outpacing the city's ability to accommodate them, market associations are pushing for the creation of multi-level parking facilities to ease the traffic congestion.

Sarojini Nagar Market: A Case of Missed Opportunities

At Sarojini Nagar Market, a shopping hub that attracts between 40,000 and 50,000 visitors daily, the parking situation has become untenable. The footfall doubles on weekends, creating a chaotic environment for both shopkeepers and customers alike. Despite the completion of a multi-level parking facility with the capacity to house 650 vehicles, it remains unopened, months after the work was finished.