Taking a cue from Delhi, Ranchi traffic police is also looking up to the much-debated odd-even formula, for solving the city’s traffic woes. For now, the system will be limited only to vehicle parking in the biggest market of the city, Upper Bazaar.
With shops selling merchandise ranging from clothes to auto spare parts and everything in between, this busiest market area attracts shoppers from all over the city, who take up substantial part of the narrow lanes and alleyways by parking their vehicles, often chaotically.
So, with the objective to allow the traffic some space to manoeuvre in Upper Bazaar, at least one flank of the street in the market will be kept clear of vehicles by implementation of the odd-even formula. As per the proposal, vehicles can be parked only on the right side of the street on even dates and on the left side on odd dates.
“The odd-even system for parking will be put into action after January 26. We are currently planning the execution part of the system and the required resources. Focus is on managing the manpower as the effective implementation of the system will need involvement of lots of traffic police officers and personnel,” stated Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Manoj Ratan Chothe.
For the time being, the odd-even system will be implemented in two major streets of Upper Bazaar, further added the Traffic SP. “The two streets where this system is to be implemented will be made one-way to avoid inconvenience. I have inspected some streets of the market where it can be done. Final names of the two streets are to be suggested by Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries,” he said.
“The work of choosing streets for the odd-even formula has been set aside for the time being as the Chamber is busy with preparations for inauguration of the world’s tallest flag and welcoming Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. Streets will be selected and names forwarded to traffic police department as soon as the event is over,” stated FJCCI president Pawan Kumar Sharma.
The arrangement will be a permanent one and will apply equally to all the vehicles, motorised or otherwise, entering Upper Bazaar. Everyone will have to park on the prescribed side of the road; no one can be exempted from the system as this will lead to failure of the initiative, stated Chothe.
The defaulters will have to pay fines equivalent to those of wrong parking, informed police sources. In addition to the fine exacted by traffic police department, Ranchi Municipal Corporation will also impose penalties against those who do not follow the odd-even system.