Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Gazanfar Ali on Sunday directed the owners of commercial buildings to strictly adhere to parking norms within 15 days or face the seizure.

The Commissioner directed the commercial buildings owners to free parking spaces within 15 days or they would be sealed by the SMC authorities. He directed the officials of SMC to conduct the market survey and report the gross violations, so that necessary action is initiated against the violators.
The Commissioner in this regard issued a public notice, besides Show Cause notice has been issued to the commercial building owners. According to an order, all commercial buildings which do not have parking slots or have converted their parking spaces into some other use are informed to revert such spaces to parking spaces within 15 days or they would be sealed by the SMC.
The Commissioner said that as per the reports received by the SMC the owners, developers who have obtained building permissions for commercial buildings, mix-use buildings (shopping complexes, office buildings Hotels Guesthouses etc) are openly floating and violated parking norms, which is unacceptable.
“If the owners or permitted does not adhere to the parking norms, the said building shall be sealed without any further notice,” he said, he directed that the owners should install a board signage measuring at least 3ft x 2ft, conspicuously showing the leading way to such parking space, depicting clearly which can be read as 'PARKING' along with the Srinagar Municipal Corporation Helpline / Grievance telephone number (0194-2474499).
“In this regard a final notice has been issued from this office. If the Permittee/owner/developer does not adhere to the parking norms, the said building would be sealed without any further notice,” the Commissioner sad. “It has come to the notice of the SMC that commercial permission stands granted on the basis that requisite parking norms and executed the same to reduce traffic congestion on the roads,” he said. “If the commercial building owners adhere to the parking norms, the Srinagar City will be free from massive traffic congestion and chaos on the streets,” he said.
The Commissioner urged officials to remain on toes and make sure that the order is implemented in letter and spirit across the City.
“We can’t allow Commercial buildings to take the City and people of this City for a ride and in this regard commercial buildings without parking space would be sealed immediately,” he said.