Kolkata's Road Network Severely Impacted by Rampant On-Street Parking
Transport officials in Kolkata are issuing urgent warnings about the city's mobility crisis, as rampant on-road parking continues to choke the already strained road network. Unchecked encroachment of carriageways is creating severe traffic disruptions across the metropolitan area.
Limited Road Space Exacerbated by Parked Vehicles
"In a city with extremely limited road space, parked vehicles are reducing usable carriageway and slowing down traffic significantly," stated a senior transport department official. The situation has become critical as Kolkata struggles with infrastructure constraints.
Kolkata has just 6% of its total area dedicated to roads, which is far lower than the 18%-23% road coverage seen in other major Indian metropolitan cities. This limited infrastructure is now being overwhelmed by parking practices that further restrict available driving space.
Post-Pandemic Vehicle Surge and Parking Challenges
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Kolkata has experienced a substantial surge in private vehicle ownership. Transport officials estimate that a significant portion of car owners lack dedicated garage facilities and instead rely on roadside parking, primarily because it is inexpensive or completely free.
This practice has created a compounding problem where the city's already limited road space is being further reduced by stationary vehicles, creating bottlenecks and slowing traffic flow throughout the day.
Public Transport Operators Reach Breaking Point
Bus operators in Kolkata report that the parking situation has reached a critical breaking point that directly impacts public transportation efficiency. "Even on major corridors, buses struggle to move properly. It is extremely difficult to manoeuvre large vehicles, especially during peak hours when traffic is already heavy," explained Titu Saha, secretary of the City Suburban Bus Service.
The encroachment of parking spaces into driving lanes creates additional challenges for public transport operators who must navigate increasingly narrow passages while maintaining schedules.
Expert Recommendations for Sustainable Solutions
Urban planning experts are proposing concrete solutions to address Kolkata's parking crisis. "On-street parking is effectively dead weight that paralyzes traffic movement. A 'no-garage, no-car' policy must be seriously considered alongside the development of multi-level and mechanical parking solutions," emphasized Dipankar Sinha, former Director General of Town Planning.
These recommendations highlight the need for systemic changes in how Kolkata approaches vehicle ownership and parking infrastructure to create sustainable mobility solutions for the future.
The combination of limited road infrastructure, increasing vehicle ownership, and inadequate parking facilities has created a perfect storm that threatens to paralyze Kolkata's transportation network unless immediate and comprehensive measures are implemented.
