JMC, district administration reduced to mere moot spectators as over 15 banquet halls violate parking norms

JAMMU: With the arrival of wedding season, the roads in city or even at the outskirts are witnessing long and thick traffic jams, courtesy the banquet halls who have failed to have requisite parking lots even as the district administration and Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) sit as moot spectator and are yet to take any action in this connection.
Official sources informed that over 15 banquet halls from Canal Road to Akhnoor and from Bikram Chowk to Greater Kailash are openly violating the parking norms.
“It should be an eye-opener for the concerned authorities as not only common masses, but VIPs and VVIPs have seen feeling the heat of the thick traffic jam this marriage season which began since October, but these banquet halls are not even served with notices,” they said, adding, “Only men in blue- the traffic cops are facing the wrath of the people for the long traffic jams till late evenings.”
As per credible sources, over 15 banquet halls have been violating the rules and regulations in the winter capital and its outskirts playing major role in the worsening traffic chaos.
The list, which lies with JMC and District Administration, of banquet halls having less parking space includes Nakul Palace Barnai, Suraj Palace Paloura, Sheesh Mahal Palace Paloura, Kohli Farms near Toph Bridge, Chawan Farms Domana, Shalimar Banquet Hall near Muthi, Gurukul Event Centre Barnai, Unique Resort Barnai, Hari Plaza Purkhoo Camp, K D Palace Purkhoo Camp, Tara Palace Mishriwala, Draven Palace Talab Tillo, Jaswant Plaza Camp Road Talab Tillo, Choudhary Palace Kunjwani, Pari Mahal Kunjwani, Sai Seyog Gangyal and Celebrations Trikuta Nagar.
Moreover, several reputed hotels, where marriage functions are being organised are also not following the proper parking norms and vehicles in large number are seen parked out on the roads.
Earlier the High Court have shut down many banquet halls in Jammu, those were constructed and raised without proper permissions. But these banquet halls, which are flouting the parking norms fall under those who were legal and spared of any action.
“Their issue is different and related to the parking facility only. However, this is a serious issue and concerned directly with the traffic chaos in the winter capital.
“Actually, if a genuine banquet hall, having a space of 500 people for a function, books a function with gathering of 1000 persons, there will certainly be a problem, as parking space gets occupied while the rest of vehicles are parked outside the banquet and this is from where the trouble begins,” said sources, adding that in this case, either these banquet halls have to book limited gathering functions according to their parking space or increase their parking space.
“But they are continuously violating the norms and the concerned authorities are playing like mute spectators,” they said.
It may be recalled that in this regard, on the directions of High Court few months back, Traffic Police Department had conducted a survey and prepared a list of such violators and also discussed the issue with Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), but JMC is yet to take action in this regard.
Inspector General of Police (Traffic) J&K, Jagjit Kumar said that it is a big problem for his men (Traffic Cops) and only they have to face the tough situation during traffic jams.
“This is a big problem for us, but I think the parking facility issue is in Court too. But it should be solved, only then such traffic congestions will be cleared in peak marriage season,” added the IGP.
Even as Zoning Regulations/Building Bye-Laws and parking spaces are being observed largely, the breach is there by majority of the multi-storied building mainly because the concerned authorities have only tightened the noose on common masses and allowed the big-wigs to violate the rules.