Editorial
Freeing designated parking spaces
A good move but needed preperation
RAJUK in its recent drive to restore parking spaces from unauthorised occupants has demolished some structures on the Mirpur Road. In recent memory, it is for the first time that we are experiencing any such action by Rajuk to retrieve designated parking spaces lost to encroachment.
Paucity of parking space is a big problem in the capital city and one of the major reasons behind traffic congestion. So, any move to identify the establishments occupying public space and take necessary action against those is undoubtedly welcome, though a belated one.
For, unauthorised occupation of the designated parking spots on the important public thoroughfares of the city has been going on year after year under the very nose of Rajuk and the law-enforcing agencies. And emboldened by silence and inaction of the authorities concerned, the grabbers of public space have gone so far as to build even high-rise structures on different arterial roads thereby narrowing the roads further for traffic movement.
From the way the mobile court executed the Rajuk's clearing drive, it appeared that it was working according to the list supplied by the DMP on the basis of a survey it reportedly had carried out. We wonder, why Rajuk didn't carry out a survey of its own. In the latest drive in the Dhanmondi and Kalabagan areas on the Mirpur road, an authorised officer did admit that 'they have no copies of the designs of a number of buildings on the demolition list as those were given approval long time back and that Rajuk did not apparently preserve copies of the same. It bore the telltale mark of Rajuk's poor record keeping and the move seemingly undertaken without adequate preparations.
This may provide space for corruption, and even underhand dealings. So, it should correct these lacunae before such drives stand a chance of being truly effective and comprehensively result-oriented. Therefore, it is important that lessons are drawn from mistakes of such moves and they are perfected for future, because we believe that there is a stupendous need to rid the city of the continuing loss of designated parking spaces. And, any half-hearted move can prove counter-productive.
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