Leh: Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development (HUDD), UT Ladakh, Sanjeev Khirwar on Friday convened a meeting to review the issue of traffic flow and parking slots in Leh town with concerned officers and officials.
Deliberating on the issue of traffic management and flow in Leh town, the Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Leh presented a detailed presentation on the issues concerning the traffic regulation on existing routes, feeder routes, the growing need for parking spaces, existing and proposed parking spaces in Leh town to better manage the traffic and especially in the tourist season. SP Traffic, Leh informed that 15 new parking spaces have been identified and proposed in addition to the existing 13 parking spaces to effectively resolve and manage traffic issues.
In the context of the proposed parking spaces, Principal Secretary, Sanjeev Khirwar directed the concerned officers to look into the feasibility and viability of the projects. He also asked the Traffic Police Department to strictly enforce parking rules and regulations, particularly against on-street parking which poses a major traffic concern.
Reiterating the need for effective management and smooth regulation of traffic, Principal Secretary, Sanjeev Khirwar directed SP Traffic Leh to share the plans for widening of roads in the Leh city area with the concerned executing department and to share the plans with the Central Public Works Department concerning road widening in the outskirts. He asked to notify the identified public parking spaces and to notify the private parking spaces after streamlining the collection of parking charges and management system with due consultation with the private stakeholders.
Principal Secretary, Sanjeev Khirwar advised sharing the proposed traffic management plan with the LAHDC Leh. He also directed to convene meetings with the stakeholders such as Taxi and Mazda Union to motivate and convince them to relocate their parking at the proposed site of Shakshaling to ensure the smooth functioning of traffic flow. Principal Secretary assured to enhance the strength of traffic marshalls by recruiting additional marshalls to effectively manage the traffic.
He also stressed publicizing the finalized traffic plan in the public domain, inviting comments and suggestions, before the commencement of the tourist season.
Acknowledging the need for attitudinal change among the public, Principal Secretary Sanjeev Khirwar advised promoting and encouraging the use of public transport by engaging stakeholders, including market associations and public representatives, etc.
Deputy Commissioner/CEO LAHDC, Leh; Director, HUDD, UT Ladakh; Regional Transport Officer, UT Ladakh; Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B), UT Ladakh; Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Leh; Superintending Engineer PWD (R&B), Leh; Executive Officer, Municipal Committee Leh and Representatives from JKPCC, Leh participated in the meeting.
