Ahmedabad: It’s peak Diwali shopping time. Which means crazy rush, and the dreaded conundrum: Where to park? While businesses in key shopping districts are offering parking spaces to shoppers by renting plots and hiring valet staff, they are calling it an additional expense for a service which is the civic body’s responsibility.Amdavad Vepari Mahasangathan has written to AMC seeking a full-time solution to parking woes in old market areas, where more than 50,000 shops operate. The association has asked AMC to identify land parcels and develop multilevel facilities in congested business hubs.“AMC should provide parking lots or multilevel parking in old city where traders are losing business because customers do not have space to park. The civic body should allocate a special fund for this,” association president Meghraj Dodwani said in his representation to civic authorities.Traders say the space crunch is not just in old Ahmedabad. Newer business districts too have high vehicle density and limited parking space, turning what was once an occasional inconvenience into a recurring cost for retailers and service establishments.Jayendra Tanna, president, Gujarat Traders’ Federation (GTF), said the problem has grown with the city’s development. “Even in newly developed areas, traders have to spend a huge amount every month to either provide valet parking to customers or arrange parking space. Or else, they risk losing business.”According to Tanna, the competitive pressure to ensure convenient access in high-value and high-footfall segments is real. “A majority of restaurants, jewellery and garment shops have to provide valet parking to customers, especially during festival rush. This is an added cost for businesses,” he said.“Every Diwali, a number of jewellers on CG Road provide parking solutions to customers,” said Jigar Patel, treasurer of Jewellers’ Association Ahmedabad. “Many hire valet parking service and others take nearby plots on rent. Some make arrangements in nearby complexes for a sum. For businesses, the expense is necessary. Otherwise, they risk losing customers,” he added.Valet service providers confirm a surge in enquiries and short-term contracts during peak shopping weeks. “The demand is high around festivals,” said K K Desai, who offers valet services. “It costs between Rs 18,000 and Rs 25,000 a month per driver,” he added.Traders want AMC to come up with a long-term parking infrastructure in dense market areas, saying that well-planned and well-designed facilities can reduce congestion, improve access for customers and reduce the recurring financial burden on businesses.
