The city's posh Khan Market area seems to be caught in a tug of war between traders and customers over the issue of parking. While on one hand consumers refrain from visiting the marketplace due to shortage of parking space, on the other, traders are irked with the authorities for not being able to find a solution to the problem.
Situated in the heart of Lutyen's Delhi, this stretch nestles within the web of good and wide roads. However, during peak hours, too many cars occupy the roads making it difficult for ambulances and fire tenders to pass.
The traders, while speaking to DNA, claimed that the conversion of Khan Market from a residential-cum-commercial area to an entirely commercial area majorly contributes to the parking woes.
"Initially, Khan Market was a residential-cum-commercial space. But, ever since it has been made completely commercial, there has been a steep increase in the number of vehicles as against the usual parking arrangements," Sanjeev Mehta, president, Khan Market Traders Association, said.
Traders from the area alleged that the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has failed to manage parking facilities and that has eventually resulted into a parking menace.
"The mismanagement by the authorities is disappointing. We were regular visitors at Khan Market but, since recent past, we prefer places like Greater Kailash as they offer better parking facilities," Twinkle Sabharwal, a visitor of the market, said.
The traders claimed the authorities were supposed to build an underground parking complex to free the congested roads. But, the proposal has remained in files for over seven years now.
"The situation at Khan Market can become dangerous during an emergency. The issue of parking makes it difficult for fire tenders to pass. Also, shortage of land and a growing number of vehicles are other challenges we face," a senior NDMC official said.
Traffic in the area has forced visitors to park their vehicles at places that carry 'no parking' or 'no halting' signs. According to the locals, the situation can be brought under control only if the authorities proceed with plans of an underground parking complex.
However, the city's traffic police have deployed patrolling staff to make sure that illegally parked vehicles are towed away and other vehicle owners are demotivated from doing the same.
TOO PUSHED FOR SPACE
Road to Khan market is so crowded that fire tenders can hardly pass
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