'City Traffic' go on a parking spree:

More parking creates less accidents

By Afreeha Jawad

There has been a drastic reduction in accidents following the new parking arrangements.

According to SSP Traffic (Colombo) Y. G. R. M. Lafir, earlier on in Colombo Fort alone there were 3-4 accidents per day. After the new parking arrangements only 7 accidents were reported in Colombo.

"The car park opposite Regal theatre itself accommodates 800 cars. We arranged an A/C transport service from over there to Fort proper at Rs. 20 per person but it wouldn't work because people were unwilling to wait till the bus was full."

"However," he said, "there are plenty of three wheelers in the park and a ride into the city will cost Rs. 50. Say two passengers could even cover the cost."

"Any driver overcharging could be brought to book. All what he or she has to do is to bring it to my notice," he added.

Currently the UDA and some private firms are renovating the road from the Regal leading up to the car park. According to OIC Lafir around five to six lakhs of vehicles circulate in the city. In 1990 the vehicle population was ten lakhs which shot up to over 20 lakhs in 2006.

But no one thought of a constructive plan to handle the problems following this influx.

As for the traffic wardens, Lafir says at CMC's request he is willing to accommodate them even now in the car parks provided the CMC maintains these parks.

On the whole the public hail this endeavour of the traffic police as a positive one. Nihal Gunadasa, a leading merchant in Borella observed how the new system helped prevent motorcyclists travel on pavements and denied drug addicts and pocket pickers from taking refuge behind chariot size vehicles.

"Many motorists earlier went round in circles hunting for parking space adding to the congestion. This problem is no more. However, to me it is a personal loss because customers no longer can park opposite my shop. But then if the endeavour has done public good that's all that matters," he said.

Abeysiri, another trader quite skeptical asked, "Is this a permanent feature?"