37.6% of Kolkata car owners park on streets

A recent survey in Kolkata has revealed a serious problem with parking in the city. It found that 37.6% of car owners leave their vehicles parked on the streets. This situation is worsening traffic congestion and makes it harder for public and private transport to move. The survey, titled ‘Navigating Parking Chaos', was done by the SwitchON Foundation and the India Clean Air Network (iCAN). It noted that many areas in the city experience significant parking issues. For example, 89.8% of surveyed areas have double-lane parking, and 52.9% deal with unauthorized parking. Public transport is heavily affected by this issue. About 77% of people surveyed said bus and auto services are often blocked by parked vehicles. Additionally, 60.2% reported trouble accessing public transport because of cars on the roads. Pedestrians are also struggling, with 68.6% saying sidewalks are often blocked. Kolkata has seen a surge in vehicle registrations, adding about 34,963 cars in 2022 alone. However, the city’s transportation infrastructure is not keeping up. Currently, only 6% of Kolkata's land is used for transport, which is much less than in cities like Delhi and Mumbai. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is trying to manage parking issues by creating fee structures and designated zones. However, there is still a critical lack of off-street parking. This is particularly challenging in busy commercial areas. The survey focused on highly trafficked neighborhoods such as BBD Bag, Burrabazar, and College Street. It highlighted that poor parking practices in these areas lead to serious traffic disruptions. Respondents called for a better parking policy, including designated parking zones, more multi-story parking lots, and harsher penalties for illegal parking.