PARKING issues are driving visitors to the Indian visa centre at the Wisma Straits Trading in Jalan Leboh Pasar Besar to park in the no-parking zone along the building, causing congestion in the area.
Our checks around 10am recently found some vehicles double parked along one side of the street causing inconvenience to other road users.
As the building is situated right after a junction, we noticed bigger vehicles, such as buses, finding it difficult to negotiate a bend at the junction.
These buses also had to deal with the congestion as other vehicles were seen manoeuvring their way out to avoid the illegally parked vehicles.
As there was no sign near the building to inform visitors of parking space or to direct vehicles to the nearest parking lot, many visitors simply parked their vehicles by the roadside.
Even we had to drive around the area for a while before we found a legal parking spot.
The nearest parking spot is at Kompleks Dayabumi, opposite the visa centre but there was no sign to direct motorists to the parking area. Most visitors we spoke to were not aware that they could park at Kompleks Dayabumi.
Our checks also revealed that a yellow box was necessary here in Jalan Lebuh Pasar Besar to allow the vehicles to turn safely into Kompleks Dayabumi.
V. Shegar said he had seen motorcyclists and cars getting hit when they tried to make a quick turn near Agro Bank to enter Kompleks Dayabumi.
“A yellow box is needed for motorists to turn safely into Dayabumi. I’m sure many reports have been made on accidents at this particular spot,” he said.
About 30 minutes into our observation, we saw City Hall’s tow trucks towing away illegally parked vehicles.
Besides City Hall’s enforcement officers, a traffic policeman was also seen issuing summonses.
However, about 45 minutes later, more cars were parking along same stretch.
Another visitor to the centre, who wanted to be known as Raju, said motorists were not afraid of tow trucks.
“They still park their cars here, even though they know that their cars could get towed away.
“I think the visa centre should inform visitors that there’s parking across the road in Dayabumi.
“To make matters worse, we often have to make several trips to the centre as its computer system is often down.”
Noorullah Khan Abdul Salam, 42, who parked his car by the roadside nearby, said he did know where else to park.
“Many people come from as far as Rawang to apply for their visa. They are not familiar with the city and do not know where to park.
“Those who are unfamiliar with this area have no choice but to park by the roadside.”
Asked if he was aware there were parking lots at the Dayabumi, he said he wasn’t.
Noorullah said the visa centre should be relocated to a building with ample parking space.
Another visitor who declined to be named said: “Parking is a major problem for visitors to the centre.”
“There used to be open car parks nearby but most have closed.
“The centre should either make parking arrangements with nearby buildings or move to a better location.”
He said at least five City Hall tow trucks come daily. In an incident recently, he said, a car was towed with the passengers inside.
“The visa centre’s biometric fingerprint system requires applicants to be physically present. So the number of visitors has grown tremendously,” he added.
The 50-year-old said that at least 1,000 people come to the centre every day.
Another visitor said the centre’s previous location in Jalan Ampang had an open car park nearby and that it should not have moved here.
Meanwhile, N. Kaviarasu, 33, said he parked at Kompleks Dayabumi because he knew of the parking space there after a search on the Internet before coming to the centre.
He too concurred that the centre should be relocated to a building with parking facilities.
“Perhaps a traffic police beat base can be set up here to prevent people from keep parking by the roadside.”
A. Surendran, 39, whose car was towed away in Jalan Lebuh Pasar Besar said the Indian Embassy should find a solution to the parking woes.
While lauding City Hall for its enforcement, he said the onus was on the centre’s management to provide parking facilities for its visitors.
He said an employee at the visa application centre told him that the problem had been brought to the attention of its headquarters but to no avail.
Surendran also complained about the frequent system failure at the centre. He said visitors either had to wait a long time or return another day.
This, he said aggravated to the parking problem.
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