Med Stores and Laundry Woes: Unraveling Dhantoli’s Parking Predicament

Dhantoli, a vibrant neighborhood in Nagpur, finds itself once again at the heart of a legal battle as residents approach the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, spotlighting persistent issues of parking chaos (Medical hub chaos) and traffic snarls. The Dhantoli Nagrik Mandal, represented by counsel Tejas Deshpande, argues that the burgeoning number of hospitals in Dhantoli and Ramdaspeth is exacerbating the problem. Shockingly, many of these medical establishments are exploiting their parking spaces for unauthorized ventures like pharmacy stores, laundries, oxygen plant installations, chambers, and even patient waiting areas.

Unraveling the Mess

The consequence? Visitors are left with no choice but to park on the roads, triggering traffic pandemonium in the narrow lanes of both Dhantoli and Ramdaspeth. These once-quaint areas have transformed into a bustling medical hub, grappling with the repercussions of a rapid surge in hospitals, coaching classes, and food joints over the past decade and a half.

Judicial Concerns and Directives

Expressing their alarm at this chaotic scenario, a division bench comprising justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Sambre has directed the NMC additional commissioner, responsible for enforcement, to submit an affidavit detailing the local planning authority’s strategy to tackle this menace. The bench insists on a time-bound plan outlining steps to remove unauthorized structures in parking areas.

Past Demolitions and Ongoing Reconstructions

NMC’s counsel, Sudhir Puranik, notes that prior attempts were made to remove encroachments and illegal constructions by hospital owners in parking areas (Dhantoli Parking). However, a persistent issue emerges – hospital operators engage in reconstruction soon after removals, prompting a need for swift and decisive action.

Lack of Enforcement: A Multifaceted Problem

The petitioner’s counsel highlights another facet of the problem – despite police authorities declaring no parking zones and implementing one-way roads in the area, enforcement remains lax. Additional government pleader Deepak Thakare, representing the commissioner of police, pledges to provide a record of steps taken to enforce the 2017 notification, complete with statistics on actions against violators.

Navigating the Gridlock

In the tangled web of unauthorized constructions and enforcement lapses, the residents of Dhantoli are left grappling with a persistent problem that demands immediate attention. As the legal wheels turn, the hope is for a comprehensive solution that untangles the mess and restores order to the once-peaceful lanes.

FAQs: Unveiling Answers to Common Queries

1. Q: Are there specific hospitals implicated in these unauthorized activities?
   • A: The article doesn’t specify individual hospitals, but it addresses the pervasive issue across Dhantoli and Ramdaspeth.
2. Q: What actions have been taken against violators of parking regulations?
   • A: The article mentions a lack of enforcement despite police notifications, prompting concerns about the effectiveness of previous actions.
3. Q: How has the neighborhood changed over the past decade?
   • A: Dhantoli and Ramdaspeth have transformed into a medical hub, witnessing a surge in hospitals, coaching classes, and food joints.
4. Q: What steps are being proposed to address the unauthorized structures?
   • A: The division bench directs the NMC additional commissioner to submit a time-bound plan for the removal of unauthorized structures.
5. Q: Is reconstruction a recurring issue in removing unauthorized constructions?
   • A: Yes, the article notes that hospital owners or operators engage in reconstruction after previous removals, (Medical hub chaos) necessitating swift action.