Jaipur Wedding Venue Owners Call for Government Action Against Hotels and Clubs
Owners of marriage gardens and halls in Jaipur have made a significant appeal to the state government, requesting a prohibition on hotels and private clubs from hosting wedding functions. This demand comes in response to the Jaipur Development Authority's traffic control board taking strict measures to enforce vehicle parking requirements specifically for dedicated wedding venues.
Parking Disparity and Licensing Concerns Highlighted
Parvat Singh Bhati, vice president of the Jaipur Vivah Sthal Samiti, expressed frustration during an interview, noting that numerous private clubs and hotels in the city rent their properties for marriage ceremonies. However, he pointed out a critical issue: most hotels lack adequate parking facilities, while private clubs, despite having ample space, often do not permit guests to park vehicles within their compounds.
Bhati revealed that there are approximately 1,500 marriage gardens and halls in Jaipur, with around 200 lacking proper parking infrastructure. Despite this deficiency, he emphasized that the Jaipur Municipal Corporation has consistently renewed their licenses annually, raising questions about regulatory consistency.
"We compromised our spaces to comply with the rule requiring 25% of the marriage garden area to be reserved for parking," Bhati stated. "Yet, year after year, JMC continued issuing licenses to smaller halls and allowed hotels and private clubs to host weddings without proper parking facilities. It appears the entire burden of meeting norms falls on owners of medium and large-size marriage halls."
Traffic Congestion and Broader Issues Discussed
Bhawani Shankar Mali, president of JVVS and state general secretary of the All Wedding Industries Federation, addressed the broader context of traffic congestion. He argued that congestion around marriage venues is not primarily caused by car parking but rather by wedding processions, known as baraats.
"We urge the administration to impose restrictions on the movements of baraatis," Mali said. "In fact, the high court had previously ordered a ban on trolleys used by music bands at baraats, highlighting existing concerns."
This situation underscores a growing tension within Jaipur's wedding industry, where dedicated marriage venue owners feel unfairly targeted by parking regulations while other establishments operate with fewer constraints. The call for government intervention reflects a push for more equitable enforcement and a level playing field in hosting wedding events across the city.
