Parking hassles at Charminar

By J.S.Ifthekhar

HYDERABAD, JULY 29. Do you think owning a vehicle in the city is a stroke of good luck? Forget it. Consider yourself lucky if you can find space to park it.

A perilous proposition - that's what parking is turning out to be, moreso in a commercial hub like Charminar where traffic is chaotic and out of gear. With partial pedestrianisation of the Charminar zone, the acute shortage of parking facility in the area is coming to light. Shoppers and tourists are having a tough time going around Pathargatti with severe restrictions placed on the movement of traffic. The problem is further compounded with lack of adequate parking facility. In the second phase when total pedestrianisation of Charminar is proposed, one can guess how serious the parking pandemonium will be.

The authorities have therefore launched a virtual hunt for parking lots in Charminar precincts. The Chief Minister's angst at placing of traffic curbs without creating parking facility has given a fillip to the efforts. The authorities are even thinking of shifting the Miralam Mandi and using the entire space for parking. The Marketing Department is being asked to consider the feasibility of this plan.

According to a survey carried out by the Vastu Shilpa Consultants, the urban planners, the parking demand for the Charminar area is estimated at 3800 spaces for two-wheelers and 475 spaces for cars. The parking now proposed on Charminar road is expected to accommodate only 70 two-wheelers and 22 cars. The balance parking demand is planned to be met by designating parking lots within walking distance of the pedestrianised areas. These parking joints may also be used as playground or food courts during certain parts of the day.

The Tourism Department and MCH have planned to develop the open spaces in and around the monument as parking lots, tourist resting places, food courts and information bazars. Proximity to the pedestrianisation spine will be the main criteria in selection of open spaces, it is said.

Right now the SYJ complex at Pathargatti is the only major parking lot in the area. Though the complex is a private property, the MCH has arranged paid parking here on 10,000 sq. feet area. It is proposed to make use of the adjacent Anjadari Pearl complex, the Dewan Deori open space and Osmania Bazaar internal court also. The authorities further plan to construct a parking lot at the basement in the Darul Uloom School, Nanakram Bhagwandas college and the Shivdat School. Similarly the vacant building and open space near Malwala Palace and behind Pathargatti Khokarwari side are planned to be roped in for additional parking on "pay and park" basis after negotiating with the owners. Another proposal is to acquire these areas and construct a multi-storied parking complex.

According to Mr. Syed Omer Jaleel, Officer on Special Duty, Charminar Pedestrianisation Project, the Hyderabad Collector has agreed to hand over the premises of Pension Payment Office which has an open area of about 4000 sq. ft for parking. On the Moti Galli road on-street parking is proposed. The educational institutions will be requested to organise paid parking after the school hours and earn money. "We are in the process of writing letters to them", Mr. Jaleel said.

So hopefully the days of park at your peril will soon be over at Charminar.

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