The unplanned constructions and lack of parking space on prime roads are likely to kill Vadodara's real charm. This is the opinion of experts from the Traffic Coordination Committee (TCC), jointly formed by the traffic police and Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC).
The committee has strongly objected to VMC's impromptu move to demolish over 140 shops and other structures on the Central Bus Station Road and start road construction work there without any proper planning. According to them, it was sheer foolishness on the part of the civic body to not have a concrete plan before demolition.
Recently, the committee made recommendations about the road from the airport to Old Padra Road, where several major malls are setting up shop. MSU archaeology department head Prof Uday Shelat, also a TCC member, said, "If authorities want a spacious road from the airport circle to the end of Old Padra Road, it should be declared a strict 'no-parking' zone." Another member, Ajit Gaekwad said, "Roads are meant for driving and not for parking or setting up stationary setups. Even if a vehicle is parked on a footpath or service road, it becomes an encroachment just like a stall or laari." He said the committee had suggested that the traffic department initiate necessary action in this regard
Commenting on the Station Road demolitions, Prof Shelat said, "The stretch between the Central Bus Depot and the railway station needed proper site measurement before the dividers were fixed. With dividers in place there is very less space for a bus to enter and exit the depot, which ultimately proves that the entire encroachment removal exercise was futile."
Gaekwad added that despite an equal margin of space being left on road for putting up dividers, traffic problems were bound to arise as all shops and utilities were located on the bus station side.
Experts feel that dividers need to be shifted towards the railway station wall to make more space for vehicles to move. Also, if VMC was planning to 'redo' the stretch at whose cost would it be done, Gaekwad questioned.
With many shopping malls and other constructions coming up on the road from the airport to the end of Old Padra Road, it is time that the authorities take action and not sit idle, said Prof Shelat. The road already has Vadodara Central at Rhino Circle, a sensitive traffic point. Bang opposite, another big retail store is coming up and further down, Seven Seas mall was under construction in Fatehgunj.
Police commissioner P C Thakur said, "We are examining all the suggestions and are going to implement them." He said a notification banning heavy vehicle on certain roads has already been put in place. VMC engineer V N Tailor said, "The road width is 22 meters and the dividers are exactly at 11 meters and is not possible to shift them on the entire stretch." However, he added that thay may consider the possibility of relocating a small portion at the entrance and exit of the bus station.
Courtesy : Expressindia.com
The committee has strongly objected to VMC's impromptu move to demolish over 140 shops and other structures on the Central Bus Station Road and start road construction work there without any proper planning. According to them, it was sheer foolishness on the part of the civic body to not have a concrete plan before demolition.
Recently, the committee made recommendations about the road from the airport to Old Padra Road, where several major malls are setting up shop. MSU archaeology department head Prof Uday Shelat, also a TCC member, said, "If authorities want a spacious road from the airport circle to the end of Old Padra Road, it should be declared a strict 'no-parking' zone." Another member, Ajit Gaekwad said, "Roads are meant for driving and not for parking or setting up stationary setups. Even if a vehicle is parked on a footpath or service road, it becomes an encroachment just like a stall or laari." He said the committee had suggested that the traffic department initiate necessary action in this regard
Commenting on the Station Road demolitions, Prof Shelat said, "The stretch between the Central Bus Depot and the railway station needed proper site measurement before the dividers were fixed. With dividers in place there is very less space for a bus to enter and exit the depot, which ultimately proves that the entire encroachment removal exercise was futile."
Gaekwad added that despite an equal margin of space being left on road for putting up dividers, traffic problems were bound to arise as all shops and utilities were located on the bus station side.
Experts feel that dividers need to be shifted towards the railway station wall to make more space for vehicles to move. Also, if VMC was planning to 'redo' the stretch at whose cost would it be done, Gaekwad questioned.
With many shopping malls and other constructions coming up on the road from the airport to the end of Old Padra Road, it is time that the authorities take action and not sit idle, said Prof Shelat. The road already has Vadodara Central at Rhino Circle, a sensitive traffic point. Bang opposite, another big retail store is coming up and further down, Seven Seas mall was under construction in Fatehgunj.
Police commissioner P C Thakur said, "We are examining all the suggestions and are going to implement them." He said a notification banning heavy vehicle on certain roads has already been put in place. VMC engineer V N Tailor said, "The road width is 22 meters and the dividers are exactly at 11 meters and is not possible to shift them on the entire stretch." However, he added that thay may consider the possibility of relocating a small portion at the entrance and exit of the bus station.
Courtesy : Expressindia.com