Kalimpong municipality has submitted a proposal to the road transport officer to organise the parking system

An army vehicle that rammed into a lamp post disrupting traffic movement on the Main Road in Kalimpong for about an hour on Monday. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha

Kalimpong, Sept. 12: The Kalimpong municipality has submitted a proposal to the road transport officer to organise the parking system in town as a first step to streamline traffic and reduce congestion on the busy stretches.

The proposal that was submitted last week had been prepared after consulting the stakeholders, including vehicle owners, drivers and the traffic police, civic officials said.

The streamlining of the traffic system has been a long-standing demand of the residents of the town.

The problem of congestion came to the fore today as well when an army truck rammed into a lamp post on the Main Road resulting in a jam for almost an hour from 12.30pm.

The proposal suggests that all passenger vehicles entering the town should drop off the commuters at the Motor Stand and proceed towards the Novelty Cinema for parking.

All out-bound vehicles should enter the Motor Stand area to pick up passengers five minutes before their scheduled departure.

According to sources, at any given time of the day around 100 vehicles are parked at the Motor Stand. Some vehicles are even parked in the area indefinitely. “With the new system the Motor Stand will become less congested as only the out-bound vehicles will be allowed to park in the area few minutes before their scheduled departure,” said a source in the civic body.

The proposal also states that 26 private cars will be allowed in the parking space on the Main Road that can accommodate around 80 vehicles. The remaining space would be reserved for taxis.

Fifteen private vehicles would be allowed to halt on the DS Gurung Road that can accommodate around 80 vehicles at a time. The remaining space on the stretch would be earmarked for parking taxis.

One side of Ongden Road, from little below Trikone Park to a few metres ahead of the Sherpa Lodge, can be used for parking and motorcycles would be allowed to halt on one side of the Upper Cart Road.

Officials said organising the parking system would help reduce congestion on many major roads in the town and ensure a smooth traffic flow.

“Our proposal has been forwarded to the district road transport officer who will take up the matter with the district magistrate. Once the DM issues a notification, the new parking plan will be implemented,” said a source.

-TT