Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 9: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has prohibited vehicle users from parking behind its premises, leading to immense hardship to visitors and its employees.
Interestingly, BMC has allocated parking space for visitors’ vehicles outside its office. This space is not safe because of poor security arrangement. A namesake board displaying visitors’ parking space exists there.
However, over 200 two-wheelers are parked in front of the main BMC building, leading to congestion at the premises.
Ironically, BMC which has auctioned over 50 parking lots in the city, is struggling to ensure safety of vehicles on its own premises.
The BMC employees are fumed over the move and have taken up the issue with their bosses about safety of their vehicles at the premises.
Over a dozen two-wheelers have been stolen from BMC office in the last six months, triggering tension among the corporation staff. Last year, municipal commissioner’s personal assistant’s bike was stolen in broad daylight.
Parking behind the office has been prohibited by the additional commissioner D Brundha. The move was aimed at reducing clutter in front of the office.
Although the annex building is now clutter-free, the front face of the BMC office remains congested.
When this reporter tried to park his bike at the designated parking slot, he was prevented by a security guard from doing so. He claimed the space was reserved for the vehicles of the corporators. Interestingly, a no-parking board was installed at the spot which was designated for corporator’s parking.
“If it is happening then it’s unfortunate that visitors’ are not able to park their vehicles at BMC office. I urge the authorities to look into the matter and provide adequate space for parking,” four-time corporator and chairman of taxation standing committee Sheikh Nizamuddin told Orissa POST.
Bibhuti Leka, a Saheed Nagar resident who runs a mobile handset shop, said he went to BMC but could not park his bike due to congestion. After waiting for some time, Lenka got some space to park his bike.
When asked about safety of vehicles, BMC deputy secretary Subhranshu Mishra said talks were under way with a firm to install CCTV cameras on hire at key areas of BMC office.
