Nashik: The civic administration has taken over all 24 on-road and off-road parking zones from the Nashik Municipal Smart City Development Corporation (NMSCDCL) after the latter failed to make any of them functional.NMSCDCL had set up these parking zones across the city back in 2018-19.Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) chief Ashok Karanjkar said the civic body will make the parking zones operational from January 1 next year.It will be a gift to vehicle owners facing issues with parking across the city, he said.The civic body will appoint contractors for these zones and decide the fees after the finalisation of the contractors. Karanjkar said the administration will soon float a tender for the same.Although the number of vehicles on city streets is rapidly increasing, many parts lack dedicated parking spaces, compelling car owners to haphazardly park four-wheelers along the road, leading to severe traffic congestion.Earlier, the agency that had been appointed by the Smart City for the pay-and-park facility at the 24 zones had refused to operate the spaces demanding an extension in the contract period by three years, a waiver of Rs 17.5 lakh annual royalty to the civic body, and a hike in parking charges.The Smart City Corporation had given an extension of 1.5 years due to the Covid pandemic but had refused an additional extension in the contract period and a waiver of the royalty amount. Later, during a meeting, the directorial board of Smart City asked the NMC commissioner to make a decision on the issue. However, the corporation had three commissioners in the last 20 months. Karanjkar, who took over in July this year, has taken the initiative to start the parking spaces in the city.Abhishek Kale, a resident, said parking is one of the major issues plaguing the city as there are no designated spots. It is difficult to go to the market areas as we have to park at least a kilometre away and walk all the way for shopping. The city needs parking spaces for the convenience of residents, he said. When contacted, Sumant More, the chief executive officer of NMSCDCL, said the contractor concerned refused to operate parking spaces. Hence, we have transferred all smart parking spaces to the civic body, More said.We also published the following articles recentlyArbitrary parking space charges lead to confusionThe Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) in India has been inconsistent in its approach to parking management, leading to confusion and financial losses. Despite adopting a parking policy in 2021, the AMC has been leasing parking spaces at token rates for commercial use while charging significantly higher rates based on the jantri for personal purposes. This arbitrary approach has resulted in individuals paying higher rents for personal use compared to commercial usage. The lack of consistency in leasing plots for parking purposes has caused financial losses to the AMC.Tree branches left on roads after pruning near Delhis CR ParkThe Public Works Department (PWD) in Delhi will be conducting surveys to prune trees on its roads. However, residents in CR Park are facing problems due to the waste left behind on the roadside and central verge of Bipin Chandra Pal Marg. The waste is causing traffic jams and the authorities have not been proactive in removing it. PWD officials claim that the responsibility lies with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), but a clause in their contract with a private company stipulates that waste should be cleared on the same day. MCD denies involvement in the pruning work.Parking woes continue to haunt motorists in MapusaCitizens of Mapusa in Goa are calling for measures to address the frequent traffic congestion and lack of parking in the town. Motorists often park haphazardly, obstructing traffic flow and occupying pavements. Opposition councillors have demanded the creation of a Multi-Level Car Parking (MLCP) facility, while others suggest implementing one-way stretches and parking zones. The ruling council and local MLA have been criticized for their failure to address the issue, with residents claiming that Mapusa has been ignored for the past 25 years. The council is now working on adding new areas for pay parking.

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