A shortage of designated parking facilities in Rajshahi city has turned busy roads and footpaths into unofficial parking lots, worsening traffic congestion, obstructing pedestrians, and increasing the risk of accidents.
Key areas, including Saheb Bazar, New Market, Laxmipur, RDA Market, Ganakpara, Alokar Mor and Rajshahi Medical College, are particularly affected. Meanwhile, parking spaces in some multistorey commercial buildings are allegedly being used for shops and other businesses.
The Rajshahi Development Authority (RDA) and Rajshahi City Corporation have taken initiatives to reclaim designated parking areas and develop new facilities to ease the crisis.
A visit to busy parts of the city found motorcycles, private cars and microbuses parked along roadsides, forcing pedestrians onto the main roads as vehicles occupied footpaths.
Motorcyclist Rahul said many drivers had little choice but to park on the roadside due to the lack of designated spaces.
The shortage has been compounded by inadequate parking facilities in commercial buildings and the alleged conversion of designated parking areas for commercial use.
At the seven-storey AH Tower in Alokar Mor, which houses 13 businesses, the ground floor has reportedly been rented out instead of being kept for parking. Visitors are consequently forced to park on nearby roads. Similar complaints have been reported about buildings in Saheb Bazar, Laxmipur, Talaimari, New Market and Ranibazar.
RDA Chairman Abul Kalam Azad said many buildings had parking provisions in their approved plans, but owners later converted those spaces into shops or other commercial establishments.
The authority has issued notices to building owners following complaints. No new building will be approved without adequate parking provisions, he said, adding that RDA was also working to restore parking facilities in older buildings.
According to city corporation data, Rajshahi has 5,819 registered battery-powered rickshaws and 8,970 registered autorickshaws, totalling 14,789. However, concerns remain that more vehicles than permitted are operating on city roads.
City Corporation Administrator Md Mahfuzur Rahman Riton said vehicles entering the city from surrounding areas were adding to traffic pressure. The corporation is identifying potential sites for new parking facilities, with plans to introduce a modern vehicle-lifting system to accommodate more vehicles in limited spaces.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Nur Alam Siddiqui said the lack of parking facilities in busy areas often left drivers with little alternative but to park on roads. When traffic police take action, drivers ask where they should leave their vehicles, he said. Dedicated parking facilities would make enforcement easier and help ease congestion.
The RDA chief said they discussed relocating businesses with police and traffic officials to create parking space in front of the Boro Mosque at Saheb Bazar Zero Point.
Plans are also underway to clear roads and footpaths in front of Dhaka Bank and IFIC Bank to create temporary parking facilities. The master plan for RDA Market also includes extensive parking space on the ground floor. Officials hope the initiatives will help ease the city's growing parking crisis.