Dhaka: Though illegal car parking is on the rise contributing to vexing traffic congestions in the capital, there is no solution in sight as the authorities concerned are blaming each other for the problem instead of taking actions, reports UNB.

The two City Corporations (DCCs) in Dhaka and the Traffic Department of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police blame each other for the rise in the unlawful car parking in the city.

Officials at both the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) said the Traffic Department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is responsible for enforcing car parking laws in the capital while officials at the Traffic Department said it is the responsibility of the DCCs to fix parking areas in the city.

Illegal parking, which occupies 30% of the city streets, is seriously hampering normal traffic flow on the city streets and causing nuisance to pedestrians.

Experts said lack of monitoring as well as inadequate parking facilities and the weakness in traffic management are responsible for the growing illegal parking.

In absence of car parking facilities, vehicles are being randomly parked on the streets adjacent to shopping malls, schools, financial institutions, business establishments and government and private offices.

Contacted, Chief Estate Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation Mohammad Aminul Islam said the parking of vehicles on both sides of roads is illegal as the DCCs have not designated those for car parking.

Replying to a question, he said the Traffic Department has the greater responsibility to enforce laws against illegal parking.

Dhaka South City Corporation chief town planner Mohammad Sirajul Islam said the Traffic Department should enforce car parking laws properly. ‘If they enforce the law strictly, the number of illegal parking will come down gradually,’ he said.

About setting up of parking signs on the streets, he said, ‘We don’t put up parking sign on the streets for lack of adequate space on the roads.’

He also said if Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (Rajuk) properly monitor whether multistoried buildings are being constructed with approved plans with proper car-parking facilities, the number of illegal parking will also mark a substantial fall.

When her attention was drawn to the enforcement of traffic laws against illegal parking, DMP (Traffic) additional commissioner Mily Biswas said traffic police have been trying to enforce the existing laws against illegal car parking.

As there is no adequate parking space and bus bay on the streets, it creates a chaotic situation on the streets. ‘We’ve already requested the DCCs to fix parking spaces on roads,’ the Additional Commissioner (Traffic) said adding that only enforcement of parking laws cannot solve the problem.

Visiting different areas of the capital, this correspondent found that a large number of vehicles are seen parked on both sides of the road occupying nearly 30% of the streets although there are some designated parking lots, and the traffic police looked to be reluctant about enforcing traffic laws.

Asked about illegal parking on the road adjacent to indoor multi-storied car parking lot ‘City Centre’ at Motijheel, Mily Biswas said car drivers are reluctant about parking their cars inside the parking lot as it takes a plenty of time to get out of it.

It has been found that vehicles like cars and microbuses are illegally parked from Science Lab intersection to Nilkhet intersection where big shopping malls and markets like Dhanmondi Hawkers Market, Badruddoza Super Market, Gausia, Chadni Chowk and New Market are situated.

According to the Dhaka South City Corporation, they have a parking lot near the South Gate of New Market but a large number of vehicles are seen parked randomly on the road.

The same scenario was seen on the street from Dainik Bangla crossing to Motijheel Shapla Chattar although there is a multi-storey parking lot, ‘City Centre’’ at Motijheel having the capacity of accommodating over 1,000 cars.

Besides, a multi-storey parking lot, owned by Sadharan Bima Corporation, is situated at Dilkhusa commercial in with a capacity of accommodating 500 cars. But there was the same scenario as several hundreds of vehicles were parked on both sides of the road at Dilkhusa.

Dhaka North City Corporation has four authorised car parking lots –– Mohammadpur Town Hall, Mohammadpur Kitchen Market, Banani Kitchen Market and Karwan Bazar kitchen markets.

According to the parking law, vehicles are permitted to park on roadside for a certain period where there is a parking sign of city corporations. Parking elsewhere other than those designated areas are illegal.

When contacted, Urban Planner and former University Grants Commission Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam said the DCCs and the DMP have to sit together and discuss a way-out to work in coordination with each other to resolve the problem.

He also suggested that the authorities must work to make people aware of the parking rules.

Nazrul Islam also recommended setting up of meters for introducing charges on roadside parking to discourage long-time parking of vehicles there.