Parking Chaos in Narrow Lanes: A Problem That Demands Collective Action

By Govind Goyal | Sri Ganganagar

Illegal and permanent parking of cars in narrow residential lanes has quietly grown into a serious urban problem. What once appeared to be a minor inconvenience has now begun to strain neighbourly relations, triggering frequent arguments and creating lasting bitterness among residents.

The issue is especially acute in areas surrounded by paying guest accommodations (PGs), hotels, eateries, and fast-food outlets, where customers’ vehicles occupy residential spaces for hours. As a result, local residents struggle daily to access their own homes, and the harmony of neighbourhood life is steadily eroding.

Despite the fact that civic authorities possess the legal authority to penalise illegally parked vehicles, enforcement remains largely absent. Political representatives, too, seem reluctant to intervene, perhaps fearing that any action may upset one group or another. Unfortunately, inaction only deepens the problem and allows tensions to escalate.

When institutions fail to respond, the responsibility inevitably shifts to citizens themselves. Instead of allowing resentment to grow, residents must initiate collective dialogue. Neighbourhood meetings can play a crucial role in establishing mutually acceptable norms for parking and usage of shared spaces.

Such discussions should clearly define responsibilities—especially for commercial establishments. While roads are public, it is the duty of hotels, restaurants, and fast-food operators to ensure proper parking arrangements for their customers. Residential lanes cannot be treated as free extensions of commercial parking zones.

Equally important is ensuring consideration for guests visiting residents. Visitors, whether for an hour or a day, deserve reasonable parking access. PG operators must also be engaged in dialogue, as multiple vehicles belonging to residents of small PGs often overwhelm limited street space and inconvenience long-term residents.

Another uncomfortable reality is that many households own multiple vehicles, all of which are routinely parked on the street. This practice further shrinks already-limited space and intensifies conflict. Blame alone will not solve this; shared responsibility and agreed-upon rules will.

Urban life inevitably brings challenges, but solutions rooted in community cooperation are far more sustainable than confrontation. An individual resident cannot—and should not—risk personal conflict with unknown vehicle owners. Collective decision-making offers both safety and fairness.

The time to act is now. Before disputes turn into permanent divisions, neighbourhoods must revive the culture of conversation and consensus. Someone has to take the first step—and given how long this issue has been ignored, that step is already overdue.