Historic Bhubaneswar Grapples With Parking Nightmare in Old Town
Bhubaneswar's Old Town, known as Ekamra Kshetra, faces a severe parking crisis. This historic heart of the city now resembles a chaotic maze of randomly parked vehicles. Both local residents and visiting tourists express growing frustration over the situation.
Narrow Lanes Turn Into Traffic Jams
The narrow lanes of Old Town were originally designed for a different era. Today, these same lanes line with parked vehicles that obstruct normal traffic flow. Pedestrian movement becomes difficult as people navigate around cars and two-wheelers.
Beyond mere inconvenience, the parking chaos raises serious safety concerns. Emergency vehicles including ambulances and fire tenders find it increasingly challenging to navigate the congested corridors. Quick response during medical emergencies becomes compromised.
Tourist Experience Marred by Parking Woes
Thousands of tourists visit Old Town to admire its magnificent temples, including the 11th century Lingaraj Temple. However, the aesthetic appeal of these heritage sites now suffers from rows of haphazardly parked cars.
Gunjan Das, a tourist from West Bengal, shared her experience. "It was a struggle to even walk between Mukteswar and Lingaraj Temple without dodging a vehicle every few metres," she said. The parking situation diminishes what should be a peaceful heritage exploration.
Local Residents Voice Daily Struggles
Saswat Mohanty, a long-time resident of Old Town, describes daily challenges. "People park right in front of our gates. If there is a medical emergency in the middle of the day, we are at the mercy of the traffic," he explained. Residents face difficulties reaching their own homes due to blocked access points.
Mohanty emphasized the need for urgent action. "Bhubaneswar is steadily entering into the redevelopment stage like other metro cities. It is high time that a planned development begins from Old Town. Stricter enforcement is required to protect the heritage of the city," he stated.
Municipal Corporation Plans Intervention
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation acknowledges the growing parking menace. Following a recent survey of commercial activities in residential pockets, the civic body plans stricter enforcement measures.
Mayor Sulochana Das addressed the issue directly. "The haphazard parking in Ekamra Kshetra is a major hurdle for our heritage conservation goals. We are identifying specific public spaces around the heritage zone to be designated as formal parking lots," she announced.
Ekamra Project Accelerates Development
The Ekamra Project, which faced foreclosure in September last year, now moves forward on a fast track. Development work includes road improvements and parking facilities from Sanitorium Square to Ratha Road Square.
Key components of the project focus on heritage preservation:
- Redesigning streetscapes around heritage sites
- Creating pedestrian-only zones around Lingaraj Temple
- Developing an integrated circulation network to reroute heavy traffic
- Building thematic plazas for open congregational spaces
These measures aim to reduce crowding on roads and protect the architectural heritage of Old Town. The parking crisis highlights the tension between preserving history and accommodating modern transportation needs in one of India's most significant heritage zones.
