Dibrugarh civic body cancels alternate-side parking order hours after implementation

• 1
• 2

Dibrugarh: Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation (DMC) abruptly cancelled a newly issued parking regulation for Jhalukpara Road on Saturday, just hours after its initial implementation. The short-lived directive introduced an alternate-side parking system to reduce traffic congestion in one of the town’s busiest commercial areas.
The original order had instructed vehicle owners and local businesses to park on designated sides of Jhalukpara Road according to calendar dates—vehicles were to be parked on one side from the 1st to 15th of each month, and on the opposite side from the 16th to 30th.
“We initially believed this alternating system would help manage the chronic congestion on Jhalukpara Road while providing adequate parking for shoppers and business owners. However, after receiving immediate feedback and conducting a more thorough assessment of ground realities, we recognised this solution wasn’t appropriate for our specific situation,” mayor Saikat Patra said.
Transportation challenges have long plagued Jhalukpara Road, where narrow lanes and bustling commercial activity create daily bottlenecks. The DMC has struggled to balance the needs of pedestrians, shoppers, and business owners in the historic market area.

“The sudden implementation created confusion among both shopkeepers and customers. We appreciate that the DMC listened to our concerns and acted swiftly. Implementing such changes requires proper coordination with all stakeholders. While alternate-side parking has been successful in other urban centres, each locality has unique characteristics that must be carefully considered,” Pradeep Sharma, who runs a textile store on Jhalukpara Road, said.