Kurnool: Kurnool city is struggling with a severe parking crisis due to the absence of dedicated parking spaces in many commercial complexes and apartments.
With new commercial establishments continuing to mushroom across the city without sufficient cellar parking, the traffic congestion on roads has worsened, causing daily inconvenience to commuters. Civic authorities have thus started identifying suitable spaces for parking lots to decongest the roads.
According to municipal estimates, the city’s population is around 6.5 lakh, with over 300 commercial complexes and approximately 650 apartment buildings. The vehicle count is steadily rising, with over 2 lakh two-wheelers and nearly 27,000 autos plying on city roads. However, most commercial buildings lack proper cellar parking. In several cases, even existing cellars have been leased out for business purposes in clear violation of the building norms.
As a result, customers visiting these busy shopping zones are forced to park their vehicles along roads and even in narrow streets, creating severe traffic bottlenecks. Localities, such as Abdullah Khan Estate, Venkataramana Colony, Bellary Chowrasta, Gandhi Nagar, Gayatri Estate, Kids World, Old Town Gate and New Bus Stand area witness severe traffic issues.
At Gayatri Estate, which houses multiple private hospitals, thousands of patients and their attendants arrive daily. There is little to no designated parking space, leading to rampant roadside parking that clogs the entire stretch, posing a safety hazard during emergencies.
Many complexes have been constructed without proper cellar space. In cases, the parking space has been modified after receiving building approvals. In several instances, plans have been altered post-approval, raising serious concerns about how such buildings received the final clearance.
Moreover, officials have also failed to act on illegal constructions. On top of that, footpaths are being increasingly encroached. Civic authorities are under pressure to crack down on commercial buildings that have violated parking norms and restore public pathways.
A senior official from the civic body disclosed that a comprehensive plan is being prepared to address the issue by developing parking lots. In addition, action will be taken against errant building owners.
