Aabpara Market awaits parking lots

[LahoreEstate]

By Fazal Sher

ISLAMABAD: Parking problems are growing fast at Aabpara Market as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has set aside its plans for roadside parking lots in place of footpaths.

The CDA, over one year ago, decided to construct parking lots in place of footpaths on one side of Khayaban-e-Suhrawardi to keep flow of traffic smooth around the market on a request of Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP).

Sources told Daily Times that the CDA’s planning wing had prepared design for this project, which could not be implemented so far.

They said ITP had requested CDA for parking lots after making Aabpara Chowk signal-free. “The ITP efforts remain fruitless as people park vehicles on roadside because of unavailability of proper parking lots near the market, causing traffic jams. The CDA officials have turned a deaf ear to ITP requests for parking lots,” they said.

Most shopkeepers and visitors park vehicles along Khayaban-e-Suhrawardi, foiling ITP efforts to keep traffic flow smooth there.

Vehicles parked at roadside covered a major portion of the road, which could cause accidents. The road mess also affected business at the market, said Sulman Ali, a shopkeeper. “During rush hours, driving near Aabpara Chowk is difficult therefore people avoid visiting the market,” he said.

Other shopkeepers demanded that the CDA build parking lots at the market and implement building by-laws that bound plaza owners to leave enough space for parking.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...09_pg11_12