HC seeks status report on car parking in shopping malls

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 29: High Court has sought fresh status report from Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) regarding shopping malls and complexes which have no basement parking facility.
The fresh status report has been sought by the Division Bench of Justice MH Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey in a PIL on traffic congestion in the city and mass violation by shopping malls and business establishments in Srinagar city.
“The Srinagar Municipal Corporation as also the Motor Vehicles Department shall file status report and compliance report before next date of hearing”, DB directed.
Court has already directed Srinagar Municipal Corporation to initiate action for sealing these shopping malls till the action in accordance with law is taken for demolition of these illegal buildings and  held personally responsible the Commissioner of Corporation for executing the orders of the court.
It may be mentioned that court in November last year had directed sealing of all shopping malls and business complexes which have not provided basement of their buildings for car parking facility.
Court also directed the respondents to perform their statutory and legal responsibility and comply with the earlier order passed by the court from time to time in the instant Public Interest Litigation.
Municipal Corporation in its earlier status report has stated that 47 shopping malls had not maintained car parking facility as is provided in the building permission and they have been directed to remove the deviation and provide car parking facilities in all these shopping malls.
Among these shopping mall 16 had removed the deviations in the basement of the malls till November 27 and restored the facility for parking and 31 shopping mall owners, however, had not responded to the instruction of Corporation and they were given seven days’ time for restoration of their basements.
Fresh status report has been sought from Motor Vehicle Department as the department was directed to ensure that no vehicle is parked on the road side and ensure that vehicles are parked at the places earmarked for the purpose and vehicles which are parked in violation of the laws shall be seized and action taken in accordance with law.