Chandigarh, May 18 -- With the municipal corporation (MC) unable to hand over parking lots to a private firm since taking over their management in January 2023, the parking system across Chandigarh has became a growing concern. Poor management, inadequate staffing, and lack of accountability have resulted in mounting complaints from residents and market associations. The civic body is running its 87 paid parking lots with limited manpower, leading to disorganised management on the ground. Across markets, especially in high-footfall areas like Sectors 8, 17, 19, 22, 41 and others, users face daily chaos, with no proper guidance, misbehaving attendants and unregulated long-term parking. Sector 22, one of Chandigarh's oldest and busiest commercial hubs, is among the worst affected. "We already have limited parking space, but due to haphazard parking, only about 50% of it is effectively utilised. MC should deploy more staff in mornings or evenings so that optimum utilisation of space is done," said Kultar Singh, president of the Market Welfare Association (MWA), Sector 22-C. "The MC staff deployed here constantly harass shopkeepers at the entry and exit points. When questioned, they claim that they are assigned new lots every day, so they cannot recognise regular visitors or customers," he added. The market leaders in Sector 8 say the situation is no better. "The MC staff is only interested in collecting money at the gate. Once the vehicle enters, no one helps with parking. Two-wheelers and four-wheelers are often parked haphazardly, blocking pathways and exits," said Sharanjit Singh, president of the Sector 8 market association. "Amid haphazard parking, several visitors find it difficult to manoeuvre their vehicles out of the lots. Office-goers occupy premium spots from 9 am to 6 pm, leaving no room for shoppers. We've suggested that daily office users be directed to the rear-side parking to ensure availability for customers," he added. The issue is citywide, said Sanjeev Chadha, president of Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM), adding,"In every MC-run paid parking lot, there are long queues and frequent arguments at the entry points over fee collection. The staff is indifferent once they receive the payment and do not bother in ensuring whether the vehicles are parked properly or not. Earlier, the MC had allowed the first 10 minutes as a free window for pick-and-drop, especially to aid quick visits, but this is never followed."...