A view of the Multipurpose Car Parking Complex in Mangaldai. Northeast Now

Finding no other alternative to bring an end to the long-lasting traffic congestion in Mangaldai town, the Darrang district administration on Tuesday partly opened the Multipurpose Car Parking Complex even though the site is yet to be handed over by the implementing agency.

The partly opening of the car parking came into effect following the promise of Darrang Deputy Commissioner, Ashok Kr Barman, while launching the celebration of the 29th edition of the National Road Safety Week on April 23 last.

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The Multipurpose Car Parking Complex covering an area of 16,764 sq ft is reportedly second of its kind after Guwahati that has been constructed with an administrative approval of an amount of Rs 5 crore under the centrally-sponsored Special Assistance Programme (SPA) where there is a provision of parking a total of 32 four wheeler vehicles in each floor.

Also read: Plans ready to free Mangaldai from traffic congestion, says Darrang DC

On the occasion, a public function was also organized where Mangldai MLA Gurujyoti Das, Darrang DC Barman, Additional DC Pankaj Chakravorty, Deputy Superintendent of Police (HQ), Darrang, Mangldai Municipal Board Chairman Pratap Bordoloi, veteran academician Dr Nagendra Nath Sharma, Darrang District BJP President Nilima Devi, Mangaldai Chambers of Commerce President and prominent industrialist Mukul Ch Deka and several other local leading citizens among others were present.

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Justifying reason of opening the complex before the construction is completed, Deputy Commissioner Barman underlined that with the increase in the number of smaller vehicles with every passing day, the traffic load in Mangaldai town, particularly in two busiest streets of the town namely LNB and BR Roads has almost gone out of control for the administration mainly due to lack of spaces for parking of two wheelers and the situation may turn even bad to worse with any kind of possible disaster.

The Darrang DC laid stress on using the complex initially for two wheelers and declared both LNB and BR Roads as ‘No Parking Zones’ for regulating the traffic movement on an experiment basis.

“Any people who visit our district say that Darrang is a green district. But they often complain about the traffic snarls. Moreover, I always fear about the possible grave situation that may arise during any kind of disaster in the town when an ambulance or a fire fighter would face tough time to reach the victims,” Barman said.

Several prominent citizens including Dr Amarendra Narayan Deb, Bipul Ranjan Dey and Anupam Deka also spoke on the occasion and pointed out some loopholes in the traffic plan including the single entry and exit.